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MEMOIRS 

OF 

THE LIFE 

OF 

CHARLES MACKLIN,ESQ. 

PRINCIFALLY 

COMPILED FROAfHIS OWN PAPERS AND MEMORANDUMS ; 

WHICH CQNTAIN 

HIS CRITICISMS 

• . ON 

AND CHARACTERS AND ANECDOTES 



XETTERTON, BOOTH, WILKS, CIBBER, GARRICK, ^ARRT, MOSSOP, SHERIDA!^, FOOTE, 
QUIN, AND MOST OF HJ8 CONTEMPORARIES ; 

Toj^eiher -with fns 

Valuable Obfervations on the Drama, on the Science of A6ling, 

and on various othtfr Subjects :* 

THE WHOLE FORMING 

A COMPREHENSIVE BUT SUCCINCT 

HISTORY OF THE STAGE; 

Which includes a Period of One Hundred Years. 



BY JAMES THOMAS KIRK,MAN, 

OF THE HONOURABLE SOClET^ OF LINCOLN'S INN. 



ALL TH^ world's A STAGE, 

AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN MERELY PLAYERS ; 
T^EY HAVE THEIR EXITS AND THEIR ENTRANCES, 
AND ONE MAN IN HIS TIME PLAYS MANY PARTS^ 

HIS ACTS BEING SETEN AGES. Shakefpeapc. 

IN TWO VOLUMES. 

volTii. 

LONDON I 

PRINTED FOR LACKINGTON, ALLEN, AND CO. TEMPLE OF THE MUSES, 
riNSBURY SaUARE. 

1799. 
CnmeD at Stationery' l^aK. 



I V 



^y^ '■ 



i/ 



^:3-:? 



Of 






tUnlc^J 






CONTENTS 

SECOND VOLUME^ 



CHAP. I 

Mr. MACKLIN comes from Dublin to London 
^-engages at Covent-Garden — brings out his True* 
Born Irifhman, under a new title— its reception— Mr. 
Macklin addrefles the audience^— an account of t^e 
difputes between the patentees of CoventXSarden-^ 
the praife^wortby condudl of Mr. Hftnris<*«<-Mift 
Macklin refufes to play Afpafia'^Mr. Colman^s bciia^ 
viour-.'^copy of a letter from Mn Macklin to Mr* 
Colman — ^feveral curious extrads from Mr. Macklin's 
papers, relating to Mifs Macklin, and to the con** 
dud of Mr. Colman, as manager«-*rMr. Madelines 
charader of his daughCer^—he withdraws himiHf 
from Covent-^Gftrden theatre^Woes not play — Mrs. 
Pritchard dics-^Mr. 0*Brien leaves the ftage-^ 
Mr. Macklin's opinio^ of him^Mrs. Cliv« retket 
from the ftage-^er charafker*. Page I. 

CHAP. II. 

MR. MACKLIN does not play, except for his 

daughter's behefk--4iis mother dies in the 99th year of 

her age— 4ior charaAer— Mr. Powelt dies^his cha« 
Voi..n. a 



IT CeNTBNTS. 

raAer— «Mr. Charles Holland dies — ^his cbaradeF-r 
celebration of a jubilee, in honor of Shakefpeare — Mr. 
lilacklin writes to T^WilkinfonrefpeftingLove-a 
la-Mode—writes to his folicitor concerning the inva- 
fion of his property-^defcribes the conftitution of a 
ftroUing company — goes to Leicefter — ^writes a letter 
to th^ mafter of a company of Itinerant comedians, 
relative to Love-a-la-Mode — receives a latisfadory anr 
fwcr— and returns to Lqndoq. P. 30. 

CHAP. III. 

MR. MACKLIN refolves to perform at Leeds and 
Liverpool — ^goes to Dublin— plays at Capel-Street the-? 
atrer^-becomes manager of Crow-Street theatre— lofes 
a valuable library ofF the coaft of Ireland-rbrings out 
l)is True-bprn Scotchman-r-Mifs Young plays Lady 
Kodolpha with applaufe-^-Mr. Macklin writes to Tate 
Wilkinfon refpe£Ung Lctve-a'-larMQdi^-tht. handfome 
terms in which tl^e latter gentleman fpe^^s of Mr^ 
Macklin— Mi($ Leefon, a pupil of Mr. Macklin-Hie 
goes to Cork and Limerick— returns to Dublin— copy 
of a l^tcr from Mr. Macklin, to Gorges Edmond 
Howard, refpeSing his opinion of Thi Siege e/Tamor. 
P- ES- 
CHAR ly. 

MR. MACKLIN writes to Mr. Colman refpcft, 
in^ an ^gagemcnt at Coyent-Gard^n thpatre— menn 



CONTENTS- T 

tion$ his intension of playing Richapd III. Macbeth, 
and King Lear — is. invited, by Mr. Colman, to come , 
to London-^is engaged at Covent-Garden — ^Mr. 
Macklin proves,' that the manager agreed that he 
(hould a<9: Macbeth and Richard IIL-^Mr. Mackiin's 
converfation with Mr; Smith — he performs Macbeth— r 
particulars of the conteft between him and MelTrs. 
Sparks and Reddifh— a confpiracy is formed to drive 
Mr. Macklin from theftage — ^Mr. Macklin appears in 
Shylock— a riot enfues— Mr. Macklin is difmiiTed from 
the theatre — he goes to law with the confpirators-— 
aflerts the rights and privileges of an a£lor in a Britifh 
theatre— Mr. Macklin*s report of the arguments of 
Mr. Wallace, Mr. Bearcroft, Mr. Serjeant Davy, 
Mr. Mansfield, Mr. Norton, Mr. Buller, and Mr. 
Dunning, and the opinion of Lord Mansfield, on 
caufe (hewn why an information ihould not be exhi- 
bited againft John Stephen James, Jofeph Clarke, 
Efqrs. Ralph Aldus, Attorney at Law, William 
Auguftus Miles, James Sparks, and Thomas Leigh, 
for a riotous confpiracy to drive him for ever from 
the ftage. P. 55. 

CHAP. V. 

MR. MACKLIN'S report of Mr. Dunning*s 
fpeech, on the trial before Mr, Juftice Afton, and a 
fpecialjury. P. 138. 

Vol. II. b 



vT CONtTNTS. 

CHAP. VI. 

MR* Justice ASTON rums up the whole of 
the evidence-^thc jury find Clarke guilty of a riot 
only, and find the reft of the defendants guilty of the 
whole information. P. 179. 

CHAP. VII. 

MR. COWPER moves the King's Bench for 
judgment on the canfpirators — ^Mr. Juftice Afton re- 
ports the evidence upon the trial'-Mr. Howarth 
(peaks on behalf of Miles — Mr. Cowper's fpeech, on 
behalf of Thomas Leiglv— Mr. Mansfield^s ^ech, on 
behalf of Clarke— Mr. Bearcroft's fpeech, on behalf of 
James — ^Mr. Leigh's fpeech — Lord Mansfield's opi- 
nion refpe£ting the right of perfons in a theatre — the 
bufinefs is propofed to be referred to the mafter— Mr. 
Dunning's fpeech on behalf of Mr. Macklin— the 
confpirator^ refufe to go before the mafter — ^the court 
threaten to commit the defeiidants-*the matter is pror 
pofed to be referred to Mr. Colman-— he declines it — 
the defendants are advifed tp go before the mafter-^ 
Mr. Macklin's remarkable fpeech — ^the bufinefs is fet* 
tied— -Lord Mafisfield's panegyric on Mr. Macklin's 
condudl. P. 217. 



COWnWTS, Til 

CHAP. VIU. 

MR. MACKLIN enters into a new agreement 
with Mr. Harris — ^re-appears at Covent-Garden the- 
atre— receives great applaufe — ^performs Richard III.-« 
a critique on his performance-^he declines playing 
King Lear — ^Mr. Madelines criticifms on Mr. Gar« 
rick's manner of admg King Lear and Othello-— his 
remarkable charaAer of Garrick— the death of Mr. 
Garrick-— is buried in Wcftminfter-Abbey. P. 256. 

CHAP. IX. • 

MR. MACKLIN performs but ieMoiih-be i» 
ftruAs young performers^his opinion of Mr. Hen-» 
derfon — ^Mr. Barry dies — his charadbr-— is buried in 
Weftminftcr-Abbey— ilr. Macklin plays Sir J^bn 
BruU-^-Yixs fuccefs—is inclined to vifit Leeds^ York^ 
and Edinburgh— his correfpondence with the country 
managers-Jiis opinion of the Edinburgh audiencej 
and of the Dublin audience — ^the Man of the World 
is refufed by the licenfer — the comedy is afterwards 
tolerated— Mr. Macklin's obfervations on the Lord 
Chamberlain's duty^ and on the detention of his oopy 
at the office of the Lord Chamberlain-uMr. Macklin's 
account of the firft night of Cato — his defbription of 
the Augufhn age of England — ^together with his ob- 
fervations on the Man of the World — the ufe the mi- 
tiiftry ought to make of the ftage. P. 271. 
b 2 



ilii i CONTEliTiS. 



CHAP. X. 



MR. COLMAN fells his (hare in Covent-Garden 
theatre—one of the confpirators abfconds — ^an4 does 
not pay Mr. Macklin his proportion of his cofts — Mr. 
Macklin proceeds in the court of chancery againft 
the patentees of Covent-Garden theatre — an account 
of Mr. Macklin's chancery fuit — ^copies of two let- 
ters written by Mr. Macklia— Mr. Kenyon's (now 
LordKenyon)opiniononMacklin's cafe — Mr. Macklin 
brings an aflion again(l the proprietors of Covent-Gar- 
den theatre — obtains an award in his favour — and 
makes a prefent of the award to Mr« Harris. P. zSg, 

CHAP. XI. 

MR. MACKLIN brings out his Man of the mdd 
at Covent-Garden — the oppofition it meets with — its 
fucc^fs — ^Mr. Macklin addrefles the audience — MifSs 
]^^ck;Iin dies — het charaScr — ^her will. ?• 305. 

CHAP. XIL 

T£(£ Dublin m^f^ger engages Mr. Macklin at a 
very high falary— Mr. Macklin prepares to fet out for 
•Ireland— writes a lettfr to his banker in favour of 
Mrs, Macklin— arrives in Dvblin-^lays Sir Jrchy 
Jldat'Sareafin and Sir Pertinax Mac-Sycopbant with 
unbounded. appUufer-Mrs. Egerton plays Lady Rt^ 



CONTENTS. Lt 

ibi^ha — Mr. Macklin is careiTed by all ranges — ^his firft 
illnefs upon the ftage — the great concern of the audi- 
ence—Mr. George Dawfona£ts Mr. Macklin's part — 
a defcription of Mr. Macklin's illnefs«— he returns to 
London — re-appears in Sbylock at Covent-Garden 
theatre — ^has a notion of writing an hiftory of the ihge 
— his hints concerning it — ^performs Shylock — his me^ 
tnory fails him — ^his affe^ng addrefs to the audience — 
he recovers, and goes through the part with great vi- 
gour — ^He plays Sir Pertinax Mac-Sycophant — ^lofcs 
his memory^^and addrefies the audience — he a£b Shy- 
lock and SirArchy the fame night with wonderful abi- 
lity — ^plays Sir Pertinax Mac«3ycophant in the lootb 
year of his age-— attempts Shylock for bis benefit — ^is 
taken ill— apologizes tp the audience— and takes his 
final leave of the fbge. P, 316. 

CHAP. ^III. 

MR. MACKLIN flill frequents the play-houfe— 
Mr. John Charles Macklin dies— his charader-^-^^xtpies 
of letters written by Mr. Macklin to his fon at Fort 
St. Qeorge, which contain a great deal of curious 
matter. P. 328. 
V 

:CHAP. XIV. 

CONTIl^UATION of Mr. Macklirfs letters to 
J^h£m. P. 364. 



C0HTBlfT8# 



CHAP- XV- 



MR. MACKLIN'S letters to his Ton continoed. 
P. 376- 

CHAP. XVI. 

MR. MACKLIN'S letters to his fon concluded-** 
his high charader of Mr. Haftings-— a ihort hiftory of 
the life of Mr. Macklin's fon. P. 396. 

CHAP. XVII. 

MR« MACKLIN grows very infiroK^his Man of 
the World and Love^a-la-Mode publifhed by fubi- 
fcrtption— he obtains an annuity of aool. — copy of a 
letter from Mrs. Jordan to Mr. Macklin-^er conduft 
towards the father of the ftage-— Mr. Macklin reco- 
vers his health to an aftoniihing degree— copy of a 
fliort interlude, in which Mr. Macklin was to have 
ipoken an addrefs, in honor (rf ,the marriage of their 
Royal Highnelles the Prince and Princeft of Wales-^ 
reafons affigned why the interlude was not performed 
P. 40$. 

CHAP. XVIIL 

MR. MACKLIN attends the tbc|atre on the firft 
night that theRoyalFamily honor Covent-Garden with 
their prefence, fubfequent to the marriage of their 



CCHTEMfTS. 4 

Eoyal Highnefles the Prince and Princefe of Wales-* 
the notice taken of Mr. Macklin by her Royal High- 
nefe the Princcfs of Wales--Mn Macklin grows very 
infirm-^-a converfiitioa held with the old man in his 
107A yeaT'.at relaties to his health^to the decayed 
ftate o^bis memory--<*4nd to his opinion of Mr. Pal^ 
mer's Shylock— Mr. Macklin is indifpofed--his indit 
pofition becomes alarming— Dr. Brocklefby is called 
in— Mr. Macklin refufes to take any medicines—takes 
very little fuftenance— his mental faculties return in 
a moft aftoniibing manner — his calm refignation — ^his 
behaviour on the approach of his diflblution — dies — 
buried in Covent-Garden -cifcumflances relating to 
his age, his burial, and his epitaph. P. 415. 

CHAP, XIX, 

VIEW of Mr. Macklin's general charaacr— his ex^ 
cellence as an aftor and an author— his humanity, 
benevolence, and charity— Mr. Macklin's learning^. 
his faults— his eminent patrons— the bounty of the 

RightHonourableLordLwghborough— Mr.Macklin*$ 
converfation— the confidence rcpofed in him by perfons 
of diflinaion— the fervices which he did to others— the 
goodnefs of bis heart. P. 428. 

CHAP. XX, 

MR. MACKLIN'S extraordinary manner ofliv*. 
ing-^rs. Macklin's great care of, and attention to 
horhufband. P. 438, * 



sii INTENTS*. 

APPENDIX. 

Lift of Mr. Macklin's dramatic works.-^Pagc 443^ 
Lift of charaders z&ed by Mr. Macldin. P. 445.. 
Mr, Macklin's Will. P.4SK 



THE 

LIFE 



OP 



CHARLES MACKLIN, ESQ. 



Cliap. I. 



IN the year 1 7 67, .Mr. Macklin came again 
from Dublin to London, where he intended 
to continue during the remainder of his life. 
He immediately entered into an agreement 
with the Managers ofCovent-Garden Theatre, 
and on the 28 th of November brought out his 
*^ True born Irijhmany^ under the new title of 
" The Irijbfine Ladyr This was its firft re- 
prefentation in London. It was caft in the 
following manner. 
Vol. n. B 



% THB LIFE OF 

Dramatis PERsoNi©. 
Murrough O'Doghcrty, Mr. MackliK, 

Count Mufhroom, Mr. Woodward, 

Hamilton, , ,...., Mr. Dyer. 

Fitzmongrel, Mr. Dunstall, 

The Major, Mr. Morris. 

Catty Farrcll, ,.—?—?—• Mrs, Pitt. 

Lady Kinncgad, Mrs. Green. 

Mrs. Jolly, Mrs. White. 

Mrs. Gazette, Mifs Helme. 

Lady Bab Frightful, ...,• Mrs. Evans. 
Mrs. O'Doghcrty, ^. MifsMACKLiN, 

We have already fpokcn pretty fully con^ 
ccrning the merits of this Piece, which is rather 
too long, and calculated only for the meridian 
of Dublin, where it was repeatedly performed 
with great approbation; and where feveral local 
witticifms, which it contains, particularly of ^ 
political nature, contributed gready to it3 fuc- 
cefs. Here, however, it was fo univerfally 
condemned, that Mr. Macklin, at the end 
of the reprefentation, thou^t it neceffary tq 
inake the following apology to the audience. 



CHARLBS MACKLIN. J 

*' Ladies and Gentlemeny 
" I am very* fcnfiblc, that there arc fevcral 
*' pafiages in this Piece which dcfcrvc to be 
" reprobated, and I aflure you, that they fhall 
^* never offend your ears again.'* 

As foon as Mr^ Macklin had finifhed this 
addrefs, the audience teftified their approbation 
of his determination, by loud and reiterated 
plaudits. The Farce was immediately with^ 
drawn, and has not been performed fince. 

Several difputes having arifen between the 
Patentees of Co vent-Garden Theatre, in the be- 
ginning of this year, we fliall lay before our 
readers the following impartial and concife 
ftatement of fa(5bs, reipe&ing the nature of 
thefe differences, and leave the public to decide 
on thp merits of the controyerfy, 

Mr. Harris, (the prcfcnt amiable and 
worthy Patentee) and a Mr, Rutherford, 
having formed a defign of purchafinjg the pa^ 
tent and property of Covent-Garden Theatre, 
thought it expedient, upon farther confidcrv- 



4 THE LIFE OF 

tion, to invite fomc third pcrfon, erf" abilities 
and experience in theatrical affain^ to join with 
them in the purchafe. They cbeccfore invited 
Mr. PowcU, This gentleman ftrongly urged 
the expediency of taking Mr, Colman as 
a fourth j to which MeiBrs. Harris and Ruther- 
ford were at firft avcrfe, but afterwards, in 
confideration of Mr. Colnun's taknts, as a 
dramatic writer, and his known familiar ia**' 
tercourfe with the ftage, they confentcd. By 
articles between thefe parties^ dated March 
3 ill 1767, McfTrs. Harris and Rutherford were 
empowered to make the purchafc, on the 
joint account of all fbur^ at fixty tboufand 
pounds, to be advanced in equal proportions, 
the parties to be not only jointly intcrefted, 
but to be jointly and equally concerned in the 
managemej^. 

When, in purfuance of this agreement, the 
contradt was niadc with Mr. Rich's executors, 
<the parties met to fettle the form o£ articles 
between them, but, to the great furprife of 
Mefirs. Harris and Rutherford, Mr. Colman 
propoied, that he himfeJyf ihould be invefted. 



CHA&LE5 UACKLIK. ^ 

with die whole and fofe management of the 
Theatre, and Mr. Powell confented to embark 
fifteen dioufand pounds, in an undertaking, 
with the conduft of which, even in the greateft 
emergency, he was to have nothing to do. 
Meflrs. Harris and Rutherford, though they 
did not doubt Mr. Colmian's capacity or incli- 
nation to conduft the Theatre to the beft advan- 
tage, yet, it being impoffiblc for them to be 
affured that no finifter accident might render 
their interpofition neceflary to fecure their 
property, they would not diveft themfelves of 
the power of fuperintending it. It is alfo to be 
obferved, that they had given Mr. Colman 
repeatedly to underftand, that as they Ihould 
engage in no other employment, they intended, 
in conjunftibn with him, to make the manage- 
ment of the Theatre their occupation and amufe- 
ment. Being willing, however, to indulge 
Mr. Colman *in his defire of appearing the 
afting Manager, articles were at length exe- 
cuted, in which it was agreed, that Mr. Col- 
man fhould have, *' the power of engaging 
** and difmiffing Performers 5 of receiving and 
" rejecting new Pieces -, of cafting Plays i of 

B3 



L.^. 



6 TKE LIFE OF 

" appointing what exhibitions fliould be per- 
" formed ; and of condufting all fuch things 
" as are generally underftood to be compre- 
" hended in the dramatic and theatrical pro- 
" vince. But that he fliould, however, com-* 
'* municate and Jubmit his conduit to Meffrs. 
" Harris and Rutherford, and, in cafe they 
" fliould fignify their difaffrobation thereof in 
" writings the meafure fo difafprovedi fliould 
^' not be carried into execution.'* . It was alfo, by 
a fubfequent writing, mutually agreed be- 
tween the parties, " that Mr. Powell fliould be 
" employed as an Aftor, during feven years, at 
" the falary of four hundred pounds per anoum, 
" and a clear benefit, but that if any other Per- 
" former fliould be engaged at a larger falary, 
" then fuch addition fliould be made to the 
** falary of Mr. Powell, as would exceed the 
^ falary of fuch other Performer." Alfo, that 
any of the parties producing a new play, farce, 
or exhibition, or any alteration of an old play, 
or farce, fliould be entitled- to the ufual emo- 
luments, and that none of the parties fliould be 
concerned in any other Theatre* 



CHARLES MACKLINi J 

On the firft of July the purchafe money was 
pdid, and Mr. Powell having only perfonal fc- 
curity to offer for the fum, he was, on this oc- 
cafion, obliged to borrow^ Mr. Harris agreed 
to giv^e the lender real fecurity of his own. 

The principal articles of complaint exhibited 
againft Mr. Colman, fubfcquent to thcii* 
Agreements, are as follow : 

Mr. Colman did not properly introduce all 
the principal aftors to his brother Patentees ; 
button their firft appearance at the Theatre, be-^ 
fore it opened, as they were advancing to 
ipeak to. him, he being feated on the middle 
of the Stage, he petulantly defired them to 
withdraw, left they fhould interrupt the re- 
hearfal, leaving them to mtroduce thcmfelves 
to the company, and take their own feats where 
they thought proper* 

Though Mr. Colman had eng^d ta filb- 
tnit his conduft to Meflrs. Harris and Ruther- 
fotd, he foongrew imp^ti^nc even of the appear- 
ance of controls and though, after much 
B4 



8 THE LIFI OF 

cxpoftulation, he affentcd to a weekly meeting 
for advifmg about the bufmefs of the Theatre, 
it lafted only a few weeks, nor was it of any 
efFcft while it did laft, as he neither would lay 
opea his whole plan, to know the opinion of 
his Colleagues, nor aft in conformity when he 
did know it. 

On the 29th of Oftober, he openly dif- 
claimed their right to lay him under any re- 
ftraint, and declared, in pofitive terms, that 
he would never difclofe to them any of his fu- 
ture intentions, but would be refponfible to the 
Public only. 

Though he did afterwards, under his hand, 
engage to fubpiit his mcafures to Mr. Harris 
arid Mr. Rutherford, and declared the fame in 
the prefencc of feveral Performers, yet, on his 
own authority, and without their knowledge or 
.confcnt,' he engaged Mr^ and Mrs. Yates i Mr. 
Yates at ten pounds a week, with a benefit, and 
Mrs. Yates at five hundred pounds a fcafon, 
with a benefit ; notwithftanding, in a confulta- 
tion held a few days before on the fubjeft, it 



CHARLSS MACKLIN. 9 

had been unanimoufly declared by dl the Pro- 
prietors, that, as the company then ftood, it 
was impofllble, without breaking through the 
cftabliftied rules of the Theatre, to avail them- 
felves properly of the fervices of thofe excellent 
adors. 

Mr. Powell juftified this aftion of Mr. Col- 
man, and did fo for this fubftantial reafon, 
becaufe, in confequencc of Mrs. Yates's re- 
ceiving -a falary of five hundred pounds a year, 
he became entitled to an addition of one hundred 
pounds a year to his falary. 

Mr. Colman, having infertcd a few lines in 
The Rebearfaly and intended an alteratipn of 
King Leafy propofed to take between fixty and 
feventy pounds out of the Treafurer's hands on 
that account, and, not being oppofed, did take 
out fuch fumj though, with refpeft to The 
Rebearfaly what he did was no more than a 
cuftpmary liberty taken with this Play in the 
reprcfentation, for which Mr. Garrick never 
made any charge j and with refpeft to King 
Leaty the fervicc was not yet performed. 



10 THE LIFE or 

Some time afterwards, when he was required 
by Meffrs* Harris and Rutherford to produce 
the Piay, with the alterations, or repay the mo- 
ney, he did not think proper to do either. 

As Mr* Powell had readily acquicfced in 
this meafure of Colman— -Colman, in return, 
infifted that he fhould be allowed a benefit, to 
indemnify him for not afting at Briftal the en-* 
fuing fummer, though the parties had pre- 
vioufly engaged not to be concerned in any 
other Theatre. 

Mr* Colman not only afted without the 
concurrence of his fellow patentees, but againft 
their exprefs remonftrances. The play of Cym^ 
beltne^ on account of fome perfonal altercation 
with refpedt to cafting the parts, had, by mutual 
confcnt, been fome time laid afide \ the duty of 
the Patentees, however, requiring the exhibi- 
tion of it for one night, Mr. Colman ordered 
its repetition J this being difagreeable to Meflrs. 
Harris and Rutherford, as tending to revive dif- 
putes, they, firft by letter, requefted that the re-= 
prefentation ofitlhould, for the prefent, be 



cc 



OhaiIles mackliK. it 

poftponed, and this not having thedcfircd cffcfti 
they fcnt the following notice* 

"To George Colman, Efq. 
« Sir, 

We abfolutely difapprorie the performance 
of Cymbelin^ at our Theatre, till farther confi- 
" deration* 
'' WeAiefdayi T. Harris. 

" Dec. 30th 1767. L Rutherford.'* 

To this prohibition was annexed the follow- 
mg letter; 

*^Sir, 
y Our right to forbid the reprefentation of 
" the above Play, we draw from the articles 
" entered into between us, from your letter 
" of the firft of November laft, which runa 
"thus:— 

" Any metifures againft which you Jhall jointly 
" proteft in writingy Jhall not be carried into ex-^ 
" ecutian; arid from your folemn declaration to 
" the fame purpofc the fuccceding day, in pre- 



L 



12 THE LIFE OF 

** fence of Meflrs. Woodward, Smith, GiUbn> 
*' &c. It is with the Icfs regret that we write 
** in tWs abfolute manner, as our repeated de- 
'^ fires, on this occafion, have failed to make 
** the leaft impreflion. * 

" We are. Sir, &c- 

" T. Harris. 

"L Rutherford/" 

This letter was fent away at twelve o'clock at 
noon; and, about an hour afterwards, Mr. 
Harris and Mr, Rutherford received the fol- 
lowing: 

'' To T.Harris, Efq. and I. Rutherford, Efq. 
" Gentlemen, 

" I have received your mandate, and will 
" print it, as ^ rcafon to the public for perform- 
** ing no Play to-morrow. 

" Dec. 30th, 1767. " Geo. Colmani"* 

" Gendemen, 
" Great part of our boxes being taken for 
" the play of Cymhelincj great damage rauft 
" accrue to t^ property, by your method of 



CHARLES MACKLIN. IJ 

^ proceedbg, and I muft appeal to my friends 
^^ and the pi^lic for redxefs. I moil iincerely 
^^ concur with Mr« Colman*s fentiments 
<< above^ and fhall abide by his determination* 
*' I am your humble Servant, 

« W. Powell." 

To prevent the Theatre from bemg (hut up, 
Meflrs. Harris and Rutherford fenc the fol- 
lowing notice to Mn Colman : 

^^ To George Colman, Efq* 
"Sir, 
*' If you refufe to give diredions for a Play 
** to-morrow night, we fhall: Whether they 
f« will be obeyed, or not, is for future confidc- 
*' ration. What you are pleafed to call our 
*^ mtodate, can be no reafon for ihutting up the 
** Theatre, as you have the whole circle of the 
" Drama(Cymbelineexcepted) from whence to 
"eka the Play. Whatever damages may 
^* arife, we doubt not, will be at your peril, as 
^ they can only enfue from your committing a 



14 THE LIFE OP 

** breach of the moil folemti and legal engage* 
** ments. We arc your humble fervahts, 

'^ Wcdncfday, *' T. Harris. 

«^ Dec. 30, 1767, *' L Rutherford/* 

Mr. Colman, though he abandoned the The-- 
atre on this occafion, left Mr. Powell to gi,vc 
out the Play in difputc, which was accordingly 
afted on the 31ft of December, in open defi- 
ance of Mcffrs. Harris and Rutherford, and in 
direft breach of the articles between the parties^ 

Meflrs. Harris and Rutherford now thought 
it abfolutely neccflary to audit the accompts of 
^hc Theatre, and inquire into the ftate of the 
Wardrobes they therefore ordered the Trcafurer 
to prepare his accompts, and defired Mrs. 
Powell, by letter, to fend whatever was m her 
pofleffion, to the Wardrobe- keeper's office. 
Mr. Powell anfwercd, by letter,, that this requi^ 
fition could not be complied with, the unap-. 
propriated cloaths of th^ Theatre having cveif 
been kept out of the Houfe, under the care of 
one of the Proprietors. This Mr. Harris an4 
Mr, Rutherford infifted was alfo a breach of a^s 



, CHARLES MACKLIN. X^ 

tides upon an unjuftifiable pretence; becaufc^ 
though it had been a'cuftonij with former Pror 
prietors, to have the unappropriated cloath$ 
kept by one of them, yet Meffrs. Harris an4 
Rutherford were not bound to follow their 
example, 

Meflrs, Harris and Rutherford having taken 
CounfePs opinion on their cafe, the. purport of 
which was, that a Court of Equity would com- 
pel a Ipecific performance of their agreement, 
and order Colman and Powell to make Meffrs* 
Harris and Rutherford fatisfa£lion for the da- 
mage they Ihould appear to have fuftainedfrom 
the breach of it, fent fuch an opinion to Col- 
plan and Powell, and, atthe f^me time, propofed 
to leave all differences to the arbitration of four 
gcndemen, . two to b? chofen on each fide, 
which propofal Mr. Colman and Mr. Powell 
evaded. After both parties had appealed to the 
public, with regard to their condudt in thcf? 
tranfaftions, the controverfy was removed int^ 
a Court of Equity, 



l6 THI LI9K OF 

The reader will perceive that Mr. Harrises 
conduft, throughout the whole of thefc diffe- 
rences, was honourable and manly, and it is per- 
fcftly obvious, from the foregoing ftatcment of 
fafts, that Colman and Powell attempted to 
affume to themfelves the fole management and 
direftion of the theatre, without confulting, in 
the leaft degree, the opinion or wifhcs of the I 

other proprietors. 

Ever fince the property in and management i 

of Covent-Garden Theatre has devolved to Mr. 
Harris, we are extremely happy in having 
the opportunity to obferve, that he has con- | 

dudlcd himfelf, in that arduous fituation, with 
Angular ability and profound integrity. No 
man ever before produced more novelty and a 
greater variety of entertainments. 

His management ftands diftinguifhed by an 
unexampled liberality in all his dealings with 
aftors, authors, and tradefmen; by a rigid 
punftuality in his payments, and by inde- 
fatigable and unparalleled exertions in pro- 
curing the beft poffible amufements for the pub- 



CHARLES MACKLIN. I7 

lie. The conftahtly brilliant and crowded au- 
diences at his Theatre afford the moft indubitable 
proof* of the admiration and approbation of the 
commiinity; andhis overflowing Trcafuryfiir- 
nifhes the fatisfadory teftimony, that his great 
merit is> as it ought to be, amply rewarded, 
and his unwearied endeavours crowned with 
fuccefs. 

The condu£t of Mn Colman, in 1768, to- 
wards Mifs Macklin, who performed along 
with her father at Covent-Garden, produced the 
following Letter from Mr, Macklin. It re- 
lates to Mifs Macklin's refufing to aft the 
part of AJpafia in the Play of Cyrus y becaufe (he 
had not fufficient rime allowed her to ftudy it; 
for which Mr. Colman took the liberty of ani- 
madverting on her behaviour. 

" To George Colman, Efq* 
" Sir, 
" I have been informed, that, upon receipt of 
." Mifs Macklin's Note, oaWednefday night, 
*' you concluded that it was a Note of evafion, 
VoL.n. . C 



l8 tHE LIFE OF 

'* and calculated to diftrefs you, and to obftrud 
*' the bufincfs of Covcnt-Gardcn Theatre. 



" And I am likewife informed, that, the next 
«* dayy in a fpirit of high indignation, youpub- 
^' ficly read her Note in Mr. Griffin's (the 
*' bookfeller) fhop, in Catherine-Street, and at 
" the fame time made this remarkable comment 
" on it, — ' that it was evafive and jefuitical, and 
*♦ calculated to injure the Play, and that I was 
*^ privy to, and adviling.in the meafurfc.' 

" The difagteements among the Proprietors 
^ " of Covent-Gardcn have turned that Theatre 
" into a den of faftion, and a forge of falfehood. 
" I do not fuppofe that the Managers or A6tor^ 
" of St. Stephen's Chapel, in the moft fadious 
" and corrupt Era> ever produced more (lander 
*' and falfehood than the Theatre of Co vent-Gar- 
" den has caufed during the Ihort period of your 
" management ; or a more malignant ipmt, or 
" a greater liar than the perfon who writes 
" The Theatrical Monitory* as I hope, to provt 
** in the courfe of this inquiry j and I muft add, 
** that as far as pofitivc evidence, and unforced 



<:haiiles mack£in« t^ 

^^ dcduftions lead to truth, Mr. Colman and 
'^f Mri Powell, on this and many occafions rcla-* 
** live to me, have been the forgers and propa^- 
'* gators of much untruth* 

*rBut the fpecial account of thcfc ingenious 
." forgeries lhall> in proper time and place, bd 
5* laid before the Public. At prefcnt. Sir, I 
" mean to confine my inquiry only to a fcanda-» 
" lous report relative to your conduct towards 
" Mifs Macklin and me about Cjrus^ 

" I muft premife to youi Sir, that I do not 
" think a juft man will ever fuggeft, that 
" another perfon is a knave or a fcoundrcl upon 
*^ flight or imagined circumftances, and with- 
" out the cleareft evidence* Such a juft man 
" I have hitherto believed you 50 be ; nor can 
'^ I imagine, upon hearf^, that you have been 
** guilty of infirtuating, or Ipteading falfe and 
" mfamous reports, which might defame Miii 
" Macklin's reptitation of mine* Upon thefc 
" principles I have thought it incumbent upon 
*' me to ipv^ you an opportunity of Mt/cwng 



.10 THB LIFE OF 

'^ your reputation from the following afTcrtions. 
« lam told, upon your reading Nfifs Macklin^s 
" Note to you, concerning her ftudying the Part 
" of ' Afpafiay in * CyruSy that you obfenred, 
" ' that the contents of it were calculated to m- 
** jure you and the Play,' and ' that I was privy 
•* to, and the advifer of the Note j' and 'thatyoti 
- ''have circulated thefe judgments upon Mifi 
<^ Macklin, her Note, and me, in various places.* 
" Of the truth or falfehood of thefe reports yoU 
*' muft be confcious^ and you muft know, like- 
*^ wife, that, in juftice to yourfelf and the par- 
** ties, it Is Incumbent on you to give an an- 
^^ fwer to the charge, with which, I hope, you 
^* Will favout" Mifs Macklin and me. 

Die. ipi 1768. " I am Sir, 

Tavijhck-Row, ^* Your very humble fervant, 
Cwent'Garien. " Charles Macklin." 

t 

We have copied the following extrafts from 
Mr. Macklin's papers* They all relate to the 
circumftance of Mifs Macklin's refufing to aft 
A^Mfi^y ^nd to the conduct of Mr. Colman as 
^ Manager. 



I 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 21 

" A variety of fcandalous reports have been 
** propagated by Mr. Powell and his Sultana. 
" I fliould not have troubled my fclf about the 
'* Grand S^gnior's Seraglio^ had not his Sultana 
*^ been very aftive indeed among the circle 
^^ of her acquauntances; it is fuch proftitutes 
*' who bring the Theatre into fuch difgrace, 
** that the world will hardly believe that fe* 
*^ male virtue can eidfi: within the walls of a 
" Playhoufe, 

" Mr.Colman^ — you, in the capacity of Ma- 
" nager, may opprefs her, (Mifs Macklin) as 
^* much as your vindiftivenefs pleafes, and 
" deny her merit ; but I know of no power that 
" can entitle you to dragoon the human facul- 
" ties. You cannot command the memory of 
" an Aftrefs; tyranny and ignorance n^ay at- 
** tempt to do it, but they v/ill never fuccced. 
" You may hate her, and may employ The^ 
" atrical Monitors to abufe and ftab her fair 
V charafter in the dark ; and you may exercife 
" a Manager's vengeance privately, and in va- 
*' rious ways j but you have no kind of right 
^^ to wound the moral charadler of an Aftrefs, 

C3 



ft£ THE LIFE OF 

*' bccaufc flic cannot get a Part by heart is fbon 
^^ as dcfpotifm commands. 

" DeQ)Otirm has many marks, by which It 
^* may be diftingnifticd. Ignorance is one, and 
^^ is exemplified — in commanding that to be 
** done which nature cannot perform. Cruelty 
*' is ^nothermark— it puniflies for not perform- 
^* ing what is not in the po^er of the perfon 
*' commanded; but the ordinary mark is incx- 
*' orablc and unremitting vengeance, direfted 
*' againft innocence, for daring to cxpoftulatc^ 
" or to defend itfelf. 

*^ Of all the crimes that injured innocence 
<* can be guilty of againft the majefty of the- 
" atrical Defpotifm, fclf-defcnce is the moft 
*' atrocious, and is ever purfued by cruelty 

" and injuftice^ 

« 

'^ In the fhort reign of your deQjotic ma- 
^* nagement, gentle Mr. Colman, 1 could enu^ 
" merate many inftances. You puniflied Mr, 
^' Woodward in the penalty of five pounds^ 
f* only becaufe he would not walk acrofs th? 



CHAHLES MACKLIN. 23 

'^ ^ tage^ in a Pantomine> unlefs every other Aftor 

*^ andAdrcfs in the Company did the fame; and, 

*' becaufe he expoftulated, he was at once pro- 

^ fcribcd as an enemy to the ftates and him you 

*' h^vc followed ever fince with inexorable and 

" vindidlive vengeance. Another inftance is^ 

" with refpeft to Mifs Macklin — ^I only re-i 

^* queftcd it, a$ a favour, that flic mi^t not aft 

" the Part of the Woman cftbe Town. 1 mean 

« the Heroine of ^ The Oxonian in Town-;' and 

^^ for this rcqueft— not an expoilulation, or re- 

" fofal, for I told you, that Ihe certamly would 

" aft it, if you infilVed on it, or thought the 

" requeft unreafonable-— for this requeft, I fey, 

*' which proceeded entirely from my delicacy, 

*' in n6t wifliing her to appear in a charafter of 

'* that caft, has flic been profcribed, and treated 

'^ with every kind of flight and indignity, that 

" concealed malice, lurking under your power, 

" could contrive. For inftance, your conduA 

^' towards her, with refpe6t to Portiay Lionel 

** and Clarijfdy AJpafia^ &c. — and from my know- 

*' ledge of your nature, I make no doubt but 

r<« you will feize every opportunity to opprc£| 



24 THE LIFE OF 

" her, that accident may throw in your way, 
" or that your unhappy difpofition can create. 

*' Remember, Sir, that (he knows nothing 
" of this Addrefs to you — {he is of a. fpirit 
" that would rather pine in filcnce, than even 
*^ open her lips to relieve her mind. No 
^'matter; ihc muft fufFcri for I lay I know 
** your nature — it is a jealous, an envious, a 
" malicious nature— -but remember. Sir, that 
*' you are yourfclf a father, and if your doings 
*' arc vifitcd upon your children, they will be 
*^ more miferablc and infamous than any of 
** their Anccftors. 

" It is Reputation alone that can fcafon 
*' or give a relifh to liberty, property, or life 
^Mtfelf; without it rcfleftion is a kind of 
" mental torture ; even you. Sir, with all 
*' your theatrical dominion, when you reflcft 
" that you are difpofing of the property of 
" your Partners, juft as your caprice and igno- 
" ranee fuggeft, you muft have many heart- 
^* breaking hours. 



CHAKLBS MACKLIN. 25 

<' I know that ypu have many cordials^ many 

« comforters^ .who adminiftcr relief to you, by 

" calumniating the reft of the Proprietors, for 

" attempting to difpute your right to do what 

" you pleafe with their property. Your un- 

'' derlings aflford you ibme confolation^ by 

** telling you, that Garrick is an envious de- 

** figning knave ; that he is ignorant of the 

** management of a Theatre, of tht Drama, 

" and of Afting J that you are the Addison, the 

" MoLiERS of the age J — and that you arc the 

" ingenious y the learned George Colman^ the St* 

** James's Chronicle, the Public Advertifer, 

<« and every newfpaper can report. There is 

^' not a Gentleman nor a man of honor thsLt eats 

** at your table, or that has the run or freedom 

** of your Theatre, nor a Theatrical Monitor 

" but will fay the fame thing. Not a look or 

** word can fall from an Ador or Adtrefs, but 

** Smith or Benfley can interpret, and we know 

" that they are very fsdthful to you in convey- 

*' ing the interpretation. 

" You have, befides, the hands of all the 
" Aftors, to prove that you have a right, as 



96 THE LIFE or 

^ a Gentleman, as a -man of honor and mo*. 
'^ rals, and as a Partner, to manage as you think 
'^ fit the property of your Partners, I will en- 
** gage, were you to raife the falary of Mr. 
** Ben/ley^ Mr. and Mrs, Mattocks, Mr. Gib-r 
^^Jon'9 Mr. Baker, Sec. aod to continue Mr. 
" Powell's Sultana in her prefent fituadon, that 
*' they would all fay, that you were the onfy 
*' J^er/onJU to manage a Theatre. 

^' Whatever filings my own temper may 
" have, when they operate to the injury or oU 
^^ fence of any in Society, I always am ready to 
^' ipake fuch atonement as jufticc or honor fliall 
^^ demand ; and could either juftice or honor 
** have induced ojr compelled you to have been 
'^ refponfible to their calls, I Ihould not; have 
^^ troubled you with this Epiftlc* 

'^ From her infancy, thro' her eourfe of life, 
^' ipy chief attention and ftudy has been to give 
** my daughter's mind that kindof ftrength, that 
*' could, with fatfsfaftion and triumph, refill what 
" might be called grc^t.or advantageous, if at- 
^^ tended with ftianwj, andthde kind Qfapcom^ 



CHARLES MACKLIN. I7 

^ pfifliments that might render her manners 
^^ valuable to thofe who might know her; and, 
(^ if not agreeable, at leaft inofienlive to all^ 

*' Mr. Beard and Mr. Garrick have known 
^* her from her childhood. They have expe- 
*' rienced her temper and condudt in her pro- 
5' feffion. They know her private virtue, and 
'^ are acquainted with her amiable nature, and 
^' have always diftinguifhed her, in their go<* 
*' vernment of ^ Theatre, from the diflatisfied, 
^* the envious, the infolent Proftitute, who 
" would fet a Theatre in ^ blaze, provided 
" (he might reign the tragic fovereign of the 
*' ruins — ^and thefc Gentlen^en, with pride and 
'* gratitude, and to their own and Mifs Macklin's 
*' honor I fay it, did ever diftinguifh her with 
f^ that diftind mark of protedion and attention, 
*' that b due to a woman of unexceptionabia 
^^ condu6t in private and public life. 

*^ This kind of proteftion and attention to 
•* virtue, and to a propriety of conduft and 
" temper, efpecially in the ladies, ought to be 
'^ the diftinguilhing charaftcriftic of die Mana-. 



li THE LIFE OF 

" ger of a Theatre. It was fo m Mr. Wilks, to 
" an amiable vanity, and it will not be the leaft 
" illuftrious part of Mr. Garrick's, as it wa& 
" diftinftly that of Mr. Beard's Management. 

^^And on this occafion> I. cannot help cx- 
" prefling publicly, what I have often done 
^' privately, that the only paternal, fin I ever 
" could accufc myfelf of, was the removing of 
^^ Mifs Macklin from under the diredion and 
*^ proteftion of Mr. Garrick ; but if repentance 
" can buy out an offence, I am fure I (hall 
*' never be puniflied for this, for my repentance 
" foon commence!^, and fuch is my affeftion , 
*' for her, that it never will have an end, tho' 
*^ time and contingencies may abate it.'' 

. The confequcncc of this milunderftanding 
between Mr. Macklin and Mr. Colman was, 
that the former withdrew himfelf from Covent- 
Garden Theatre^ and did not, till fome years 
after, return to it again. 

. In the year 1768 many events took place,, 
which proved highly diftrcfling to the Drama* 



charlSs MackLin. i^ 

That excellent Aftrefs, Mrs. Pritchard, died in 
the fifty-eighth year of her age j and Mr. 
O'Brien left the Stage. This Gentleman, Mr. 
Macklin has declared, was the only Aftor who 
ever filled the Parts of Mf. fFilks in genteel 
Comedy, with elegant deportment. 

In the courfe of this year Mrs. Clivc alfo re- 
tired from the Stage. This admirable Adtrcft 
W2ls long the darling of the public. If ever 
there was a true comic genius, Mrs. Clive was 
one ; (he perhaps never was equalled, certainly 
never excelled. We cannot defcribc her better 
than by introducing the following lines from a 
celebrated poet, which may, with great pro* 
priety, be applied to her— 

^ ^' Hafte tkee, nymph, and bring with thee 
^' Jeft and yoochful Jollity ; 
** Quips and Cranks, and wanton Wiles, 
" Nods and Becks, and wreathed Smiles, 
*'* Such as hang on Hebe's cheek, 
** And lave to live in dimple fleek ; 
*' Sport, tliat wrinkled Care derides, 
" And Laughter, holding both his fides/' 



$t THE LIFB OF 

Cftap* It. 

IN the Ycai- 1769 Mr. Macklin did not pc^ 
form upon any Stage> (except for his 
daughter's benefit) but applied himfejf clofely 
to ftudy. During the midft of his application, 
he received the melancholy intelligence of his 
mother's death* Mrs. Alice 0*MeaUy paid the 
debt of nature in the 99th year of her age* 
Of this lady we may truly fay — that * (he lived 
reipeded, and lamented died/ She waajre^- 
markable for her charitable donations, and the 
poor, in that part of the country where flie re*- 
fided, fuftained a very fevere lofs at her diflblu* 
tion. In her perfon Mrs. O'Meally was rather 
above the middle height j her features were re- 
gular, and her manners engaging* She was 
poflcffed of a moft excellent \inderftanding, and 
great fenfibility. Her remains were followed 
to the grave by a yttf numerous train of 
mourners. She was buried at Cloncurry, with- 
in two hundred yards of the place where fhc 
rcfided for many, years. 



i 



CHARLES MACKLIK. ^t 

Mr. William Powell, one of the Patentees of 
Covent-Garden Theatre, died in the courfe of 
this year. No Aftor, except Mr. Garrick, 
ever made fo fliccefsfial an entre, nor ever gave 
more univerfal fatisfadion. He was buried at 
Briftol, with great funeral honors. 

Mr. Charles Holland died alfo this year. He 
was a Performer of confiderable talents, and 
great attention ; and, if not originally excellent, 
Was one of the heft cojMers of excellence. This 
year was alfo remarkable for the celebration of 
a Jubilee in honor of Shakfpeare, which lafted 
three days, during which time entertainments 
of Oratorios, Concerts, Pageants, Fireworks, 
.&c. were prefentcd to a very brilliant and nu- 
merous company, aflembled from all parts of 
the Kingdom. Many perfons of the higheft 
quality and rank, of both fexes, fome of the 
moft celebrated beauties of the age, and men 
diftinguilhed for their genius and love of the 
elegant arts, thought thcmfclves happy to fill 
the grand chorus of this high Feftival. There 
was an Amphitheatre erefted at Stratford, upon 
the plan of Ranelagh, decorated with varioui 



31 THE LIFE OF 

i 

devices. In the Town-hall Shakfpcarc's moft 
ftriking Charafters were fcen, and the old 
Houfe, where the immortal Bard was born, was 
covered with a curious emblematical traiifpa- 
ttncyj the fubjedt was, the Sun ftruggling 
through clouds to enlighten the World. 

In the year 1770, Mr. Macklin having heard 
that Mn Wilkinfon, the Patentee of the York 
Theatre, had taken a liberty with his Property, 
by adting his Farce of " Loive-^aAa-Modey^ 
fcnt him the following interdiftion. 

'' To Tate Wilkinfon, Efq. 
« Dear Sir, 
^^ When propriety concurs with a requeft to 
^' me, no man, I believ^, has more pleafure 
" in aflenting to it; none more regret in re- 
*^ fufing, when impropriety fays I ought to 
*' diffent. No lover can be more jealous of the 
** favours of his favourite, than I am of the 
" ftolen pleafures of my Mufe's fevourite, 
*' ' Love^a4a'Mode: 



CHARLIES MACKLIN. 33 

'^ You have invited me to York in the 
" Whitfun-week ; I have told you that my fore- 
*^ caft for next Winter has fo engaged my mind 
" and time, that I could not, without the proba- 
" bility of hurting my defign, detach cither 
" from that purfuit -y yet I may perhaps, not- 
*^ withftanding, take a trip to York in Whitfun- 
" week, provided it Ihould fall in with your 
" wiflies. 

*^ I fay perhaps, for even now I cannot de- 
" termine — Should I meet you there, it would 
" not be prudent that Love-a-la-Mode ihould 
" be afted before. But, whether I go or not, 
" I will not confent to have it afted on the oc- 
" cafion you niention, or any other, and there- 
*' fore I am fure you will not permit it.— I am 
" fenfible that feveral Companies aft it ; and 
" the reafon why they have hitherto done 
" it with impunity is, becaufe I was in Ireland: 
" but now I am returned, and Ihall fettle here, 
" depend upon it, I Ihall put the law againft 
fc every offender of it, refpefting my property, 
" in fuU force. 

Vol. II. D 



34 THE Litt or 

<* I will tell you what in moft likelihood 
" would induce me to York — your telling me 
« what fom certain you would enfure me for 
•' fo many nights : much or little, give me your 
*^ thoughts On it/' 

This Letter not producing the defired cffefl:, 
and ibme ftrolling Companies ftill continuing to 
aft his Farce of Love-a-la-Mode, Mr. Mack- 
lin rcfolved to take more efFeftual meafures to 
prevent thisinvafion of his literary property : he 
accordingly wrote the following Letter to his 
Solicitor on the fubjeft. 

" Dear Sir, 
** By the Paper cnclofcd (a Play-bill) in this 
*' Letter, you will find that I muft again call 
" the Law to my aid, in order to maintain my 
^* preclufive right to the property of Love^-a- 
*^ la- Mode. The offender is one Wiitley^ whofe 
♦^ Chriftian name I know not. He is the Maf- 
^* ter of a ftrolling Company, and generally 
" ads at Manchefter, Derby, and Leiccfter ; 
" fo that an acquaintance at any of thofe places 
" might inform one of his Chriftian name. 



CHARLES MACKtIN. 55 

«' fhould it be neceffary to the filing of a fiill : 
" or were I to write a Letter to hira> I fuppofc 
" that would draw it from him. 

*' The conftitution of thefe ftroUing Com- 
** paniesis^thatoneman generally finds Cloaths 
" and Scenes, for which he hd&fourjbares of the 
" profits. Every Performer is a Sharer. The 
" number of Performers about fixtecn of eigh- 
" teen. The perfon who provides the Cloaths 
" and Scenes is deemed the Mailer of the Com- 
" pany, who makes all contracts for rents, &c. 
" and is refponfibk for all expences and con- 
" tingencies of every kmd, incidental to the 
^* undertaking. This is the charaftef Whiiley 
". ftands in. My opihion is, that a Bill fhould be 
" filed againft him direftly, without giving any 
•' notice of it beforehand. The meafure would 
" be more alarming to him, and to others of the 
" fame character in life, who have taken the fame 
" liberty. I think the perfons who afted in 
'^ the Farce ftiould be included in the Bill ; 
" that would deter them, and the like of them, 
** from foch invafiohs/or the future : — but then 
*' you tuyft obferve that we know not th^ 

D2 



^6 THE LIFE OF 

" Chriftian Names of any of them. Were it 
*' ncceffary, I could go down to Lciccfter in a 
" day, and afcertain thefc and fomc other points 
" that you might think indifpenfible. Pray take 
" care not to lofe the P lay -hill i it was fent to me 
" by an unknown hand. 1 fliould be glad to 
" have your thoughts on thefe matters as fopn 
*' as convenience permits j and when you come 
'^ towards Covent-Garden, Ihould be obliged 
" to you if you would call on me. 

" I diredledacKent to you — a Mrs. Egcrton : 
" I hope fhe has found you out. 
May 1 8th, 1771. "I am, 

James-Streety " Dear Sir, &c. 

Covent-Garden. *' Charles Macklin." 

In confequence of this Letter, Mr. Macklin 
was advifed by his Solicitor to go to Leicefter, 
to afcertain every particular relative to fTbitley's 
performance of Love-a^la-Mode. 

Mr. Macklin was the better enabled to com- 
ply with this advice, becaiife he was not en- 
gaged at either of the London thcatresr— He 



CHARLES MACKXIN. 37 

accordingly fct out for Leiceftery where he 
fctdcd his bufinefs, as will appear by the ^fub- 
fcqucnt Letters. 

The firft Letter — ^No. L — was written by 
Mr. Macklin, at Leiceftcr. It is dated May 
%6\ky 177 J J and is addrcffcd to 

*' Mr. William. Whitley, Matter of a Company 

of Itinerant Comedians, 
(No. I.) 

'^ Sir, 
*' As you are the perfon who prefidcs over 
'^ and manages one of the itinerant Companies 
" of Comedians, that have given me caufe of 
" complaint, by their haying adted my Farce of 
" Love-a-la^Modey I have taken the liberty of 
*^ addreflingthis Letter to you. Sir, as their Di- 
" re&or. Yet, as your whole Company, by 
" your political conttitution, are generally equal 
" Sharers with you in this undertaking as Come- 
" dians, (except that you. Sir, like every other 
" Prefident of a ftroUing Company, have four 
^ ihares extraordinary of the profits allowed 
^' you by the Community, for the ufe of th« 

D3 



38 THX LIFS OF 

^^ Cloaths and Scenes with which you fiimifh 
^^ them) and as they» as well as you^ are all ini^ 
*^ volved in the offence that I complain of, I 
*' think it but juft, that you ihould communi- 
'' catc this Letter to them, that they may 
*' know what they arc to expe£t from my in- 
*^ tended proceedings in defence of this pro- 
" perty. 

" You muft allow, Sir, that no Performance 
" of any kind can be exhibited by your Com- 
" pany, but by your direftion or permiflioni 
^* the firfl time that Love-a4a-mode was afted 
*' by them was for your Benefit j of this I ver- 
*' bally complained to you behind your fcenes 
^' here in Leicefter, on the night it was again 
** afted, for the benefit of Mr. Owen and Mifs 
*• Wheeler. And my reafon for fpeaking to 
*' you about it was, to give you an opportunity 
** of frankly confeifing your offence, and of 
'^ offering an aflurance that you would not 
*' commit the like again; but, inftead of fuch a 
*^ mitigating behaviour, you anfwered me with 
^' a kind of legal defence of what you had done, 
*^ letting mc know * that you had been bred 



CHA&tES MACKLIN. 39 

" an aUorney; that you pcrfeftly knew what 
" the law was in your condu£fc refpeding your 
*^ aAix^ my Farce of Love-a-la-Mode, or any 
" other Play by your Company ;* and, by way 
" of legal reafoning, warmly urged, * that you 
" were not the ohlyperfon that had afted Lovc- 
" a-la-mode without my leave — for that one 
^' Laurence Kennedy, one Heaton, MiUcr, and 
" Wilkinfon of York, hadadtcdit many times i' 
" and it was your opinion, ' that any man might 
" aft it fafclyi' — and thus fortified by pre^ 
*' cedent, and many moral and legal arguments, 
*' you feemed to ftand upon your defence, as 
"if you were confident that your knowledge 
" of the law would bear you and your company 
" out in the tranfgreflion of the law, and the 
" invafion of literary property. I cannot help 
" obferving on one argument, on which you 
" ifcem to have great legal dependance. You 
" urge4> as a clear defence — ^ that the copy of 
" Love-a^la^mode, by which your Company 
"aded, was not the fame literally as mine; 
*' for that yours differed from it in many Paf- 
^^/ages.' So that, by this kind of reafoning, 
D4 



40 THE LIFE OF 

"and jufticc — if you had ftolcn, or had re- 
" ccivcd my horfe that had been ftolcn by ano- 
" ther, and you then had lamed him, cut off 
"one of his ears, and had daubed him with 
" various colours that had difguifed him, you 
" think you might cfFeftually plead that the 
'^ horfe was not mine, as he was fo nicely and 
*' artfully difguifed, fo lame, and fo very much 
" altered for the worfe. What effeft this in- 
'^ genious argument will have in a court of law 
*' I fhall not pretend to fay; but this I will ob- 
*^ ferve, refpefting the morality or prudence of 
" it, that it puts me in mind of many men I 
" have known heretofore, who have proved 
" their own roguery, and ruined their fortunes 
^^ and their charafters, by the vicious conceit, 
** that they could be too cunning for the law; and 
" who, if they had not been influenced by that 
'^ over-weening ignorance, might have died 
" with fair fortunes and unblemifhed charaftcrs. 
" But, Sir, upon the whole, I find, by your 
" own arguments, . that it is incumbent upon 
" me to put a ftop to the proceedings of 
" Kennedy^ Heaton^ Millery Wilkinjon^ and 
^^ every other perfon, refpefting their afting 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 4I 

*' Love-a^la-Mode. I Ihall begin with you. Sir, 
" and your whole Company s and fhall, as foon 
" as I can, afterwards, profecute the other 
" Pirates of Love-a-la-Mode. 

^^ If I can firft get redrefs and future fafcty 
*' without the interference of a court of law, I 
*' Ihall not feek for it there j becaufe I know it 
" would bear intolerably hard upon many, ^ho 
"can but very ill afford it. All I defire is, a 
'' proper acknowledgihent under the hands of 
'* thofe who have tranfgrefled in this bulinefs, 
" and a public affurance that they never will 
" again invade my property, 

*^ If they refufe this, I think no man can 
" juilly complain, fhould I then call in the law 
" to my aid, which I intend to do, in fo effcftual 
** a manner, as to punifh every individual of a 
^' Community of Aftors as often as they Ihall 
" tranfgrefs the law, by their invaiion of nfy 
" property, until I have convinced them that 
" they cannot do it with impunity. 
" Yours, Sir, 



4% THE i:.IF£ OF 

Mr. Macklin fcnt a Copy of this Letter tx> 
hb Solicitor in Townj with the foUowii^ ad* 
ditioii. 

" N. B. There is a miftake in the Chriftian 
^' name of Whitky^ I Ihould have wrote to 
^* fames Whitley, for that is his Chriftian 
« name/' 

No. 2, is fFbitley's wifwer to this letter, 

(No. a.) " To Mr, Charles Macklin, 

" Lciceftcr, May a6, 177 1. 
<^Sir, 
*' If mifconccption had not hurried you into 
'^ a labyrinth of error; if your judgment was 
** not jaundiced by falfe, mean, wicked agents, 
^' fuch as Connor zmiKinna, I think you could 
*^ not rafhly rcfolve to heap any kind of cx- 
*^ pence upon people totally innocent of intcn*- 
*' tional tranfgreflion. 

" if a man made invafion on my Wardrobe, 
" and fold a coat of mine in Monmouth-Street, | 

" and an harmlefs innocent man here bought it, J 



CHARLES MACPCLIN. 43 

** and paid honefUy for it-^I could not punifli 
** him for the wearing of it; nor, in the judi- 
«« cious eye, would it appear that he invaded 
*^ my property ; nor could any law condenm 
*' him for it: but this, and much more of ra** 
*' tional inference that might ferve to convince, 
** I Ihall wave, and acquiefce with your own 
"propofition, as I would rather heal than 
'irritate grievances: though indeed. Sir, I 
'* am as well pcrfuaded I can exculpate myfelfi 
*' as I am that the fun moves the earth, or the 
*' foul of man i$ immortal. 

*' I Ihall not recriminate— and, though I muft 
" perceive the palpable poignancy of fome il- 
" liberal and unjuft infinuations in your letter, 
'* as I am confcious of my own integrity, I can- 
" not make the application to myfelfi but re- 
** ply, qui capit illefacit. 

'* I know that reafon is the rock on which 
" law is, or ought to be founded, and that un- 
" erring guide tells me, that I have not invaded 
*' either your literary property, or offended any 
" part or parcel of the law, in looking on the 



44 THE LIFB or 

" exhibition, or by not preventing the per- 
" formailce of your Farce. But, Sir, myna- 
^^ ture and education foar above the commiffion 
^^ of wrongs. I fhould fhuddcr at the fliadow 
*' of an unprovoked injury j and, as I am im- 
" patient of bearing infult, am ever cautious 
^* of affronting : therefore, as a Gentleman, 
^* born and bred above meannefs, I fhall make 
" you this conceilion ; — that I will fubmit my 
** conduft to the arbitration of any two fenfi- 
** ble honeft men — and, in the interim^ to wipe 
*^ away your anxiety, folemnly promife that, 
"as it difturbs your peace, Love-a-la-Mode 
" Ihall never be performed in my Company 
<< without your concurrence. 

" Sir, wefe I fingle in this conflid, I could 
*^ fearlefs face every impending confequence 5 
** but, as the debate is complicated, and you^^ 
** like a Gentleman, offered the alternative, I, as 
^' a Gentleman, and the parent and proteftor of 
" my people, do embrace the alternative, and 
" fhall be proud to meet Mr. Macklin for the 
" future as a friend. 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 4; 

« Confider, Sir, the noble mind is above 
*' fccking for fcrvile fubmiffion, and the virtu- 
*^ ous mind too exalted to make it. I am, widi 
*'refpea. Sir, 

" Your moft humble Servant, 

" James TTbitleyr 

This conceflion on the part of Whitley ter- 
minated all the differences between the parties ; 
and Mr. Macklin foon after returned to town, 
well pleafed at what he had done. 



Cfiap^ III. 

UPON his arrival in London, Mr. Macklin 
found that various propofals from dif- 
ferent parts of the country, fuch as Leeds, 
York, and Liverpool, and from the Managers 
of the Dublin Theatres, awaited his determi- 
nation. He accordingly refolved to perform a 
certain number of nights, during the fummer 
feafbn, at Leeds and Liverpool, and from thence 
to proceed to Dublin once more. 



4^ THE LIFE or 

Having performed Sbylock, Sir Arcby^ Lave-- 
goldf &c. with his accuftomed ability at Leedi 
and Liv4rpooly to very crowded houfes, Mn 
Macklin fet fail for Ireland, where he arrived 
on the I ith of NoYembcr 177 1 . His firft en- 
gagement was at the litde Theatre in Capel« 
Street, where he performed, with amazing 
fuccefs, till the beginning of the year 1772, 
when he, in conjundion with Mr. George 
Dawfon, (the fucceffor of Mr, Barry) under- 
took the Management of Crow-Street Theatre* 
When Mr. Macklin left London, in 177 1, he 
Clipped all his furniture, plate, pidturcs, and a 
very choice and valuable library of books, worth 
upwards of five thoufand pounds, on board a 
Dublin trader, then lying in the River Thames; 
but, unfortunately, this fhip was ftranded on the 
Coaft of Ireland, off Arklowy and almoft the 
whole of Mr. Macklin's property was \o&. 
What he had to regret moft was the deftruftioft 
of his books and manufcripts, the labotir of 
many years clofeftudy and application. Itwasmxt 
Mr. Macklin aloM that had to lament this lofe> 
the Stage, and the whole of the dramatic world, 
fufix^red very materially by the ftxipwrcckj 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 47 

the mercilcfs waves deftroycd his Treatifes on 
the Sciifice of AStingy on the fForks of Shak-^ 
Jfearty on Comedy ^ Tragedy y and many other 
Ibbjetfts, together with feveral manufcripts of 
infinite value and importance to the Britilh 
Theatre. 

During Mr. Macklin's inan^ment of Crow- 
Street, he got up his True-born Scotchnumy with 
great care and attention, and inftrufted all the 
Performers in their Parts, and efpecially Mifs 
Young (late Mrs. Pope) who performed the 
Charafter of Lady Rodolpbay very much to the 
advancement of her own reputation, and en- 
tirely to the approbation of her inftru£tor. 

Mr. Macklin, being ftill apprchenfive that 
Mr. Tate Wilkinfon intended to treat the pub- 
lic with the reprefentation of Love-a-la^Mode, 
wrote to him on diat head, and being after- 
wards ailbred that Mr. Wilkinfon had no idea 
of purloining *?/> Archy anymore, he fent him 
the following Letter. 



4$ THE tIFB OP 

" To Tate Wilkinfon, 
*' Dear Sir, Dublin, May 5th, 1772* 

'* I am obliged to you for your kind Note and 
«* Invitation, and am fatisfied Fully with your in* 
** tegrity c6ncerning Love-a-la^Mode. Should 
*^ you have a leifure hour at any time, and would 
** call, I Ihall eftcem it as a favour. I would do 
^* myfelf the pleafure to wait on you, but am 
" confined by a particular application to a little 
*^ Piece I am preparing for the Stage, 
" I am. Sir, &c. 

" Charles Macklin. 

'* P» S. Can you dine with me to-day ? If 
*' you can, fend me word, and come without 
*' ceremony — and pick up a fecond, third, or 
*• fourth perfon, and bring them with you — 
*' but fend me word immediately — the hour 
'^ four/' 

In confequence of this invitation, Mr. Wil- 
kinfon introduced Dr. Wallis, who was at that 
time with him in Dublin, and another friend, to 
Mr. Macklin, from whom (according to Mr. 
Wilkinfon's account) they received an hearty 



CHARLBS MACKLIN. 49 

Welcome^ andipcnc a very enteitainbg, cheer- 
ful, hitppyday. 

Mr. Titc WiUcinfon, in his Memoirs, Vol* 
^* P*^ 3S^ fpeaks thus of Mr. Macklin: 

'^ Mr^ Macklin has often afted by me as a 
" particuki* kind friend, and to him I am in 
^' debt for many obligations of tender regard 
" paid to my juvenile years, and linces and as 
" I never made him any equal return, confefs 
" myfclf his obliged and grateful debtor. Mr. 
^' Macklin and I have often met in Dublin, 
"fome times in the fawnc Theatre, fometimes 
^* in our difFereiit Ihips of war, and, meet him 
" where I would, I cannot but remeiiiber civi- 
"lities, not only tp me, but to any friend I 
" took in my hand to introduce to him/* 

At this time, Mr. Macklin had under hi^ 
tuition the accomplilhed Mi/s Lee/on (the pre- 
fcnt Mrs* Lewis) who accompanied tb^ Father 
of the Stage to Limerick and Cork, where he 
had engagements of an advantageous nature* 

V W^L. n. E 



50 THE LIFE OF 

Upon Mr. Macklin's return to Dublin^ from 
Cork, he entered into a correfpondcnce with 
•Mr. Colman, rcfpefting^an engagement at Co- 
Vent-Garden Theatre, which we fhall ftate 
hereafter. 

The .following Letter was written, at 
this time, by Mr. Macklm,'to Gorges Ed- 
tinond Howard, Efq. rcfpcfting * The Siege of 
Tamor: 

*' Bolton-Street, Feb. ift, 177J. 
"Dear Sir, 

" I Ihould have returned you my thanks for 
^' your obliging prefent of the Tragedy of 
^^ ^Tbe Siege of Tamor, before this time, but 
^i th;at I deferred it till bufiiiefs would p«r- 
" mit me to give it a fecond reading ; which I , 
*' have done, and for my time, have been repaid 
" with a new and additional pleafure. In the 
" choice of your fubjeft, you are, in my opi- 
*^ nionx peculiarly happy; for fure, amongft the 
*^ injfinity of viciffitudes that prove man's con- 
" ftancy, the Patriot and the Father, the deareft 
" relations in life (you. may except the Lov#if 



CHARLES MACKLIN. ft 

" you will) could not have falkn inro a greater 
^^ dilemma, than that of being obliged to fur- 
*^ render his religion, his country, and its libcfr- 
*' ties, to the cruelty, of a Tyrant. 

" Nor are you lefs happy in the intcrcfts, 
^' manners, paflions, and the various irigre- 
" dients that compofe your creation, the whole 
" of which you have fuggefted, managed, and 
** coloured, as it appears to my judgment, 
" with an art fo true, and a genius fo ftrong, as 
" to conceal that art in a fcmblance of intercft- 
" ing pathetic nature. 

" Your interefts and relations produce your 
" manners, eharafterize your aftors, and give 
" motion to your paflions, fome of which are 
•" oppofitc,. fome tender, all different, and all 
" fometimcs (as they fhould be) in -the ex- 
" treme. Yet, to borrow an expreflion from 
.*'your rival Shakfpeare, in the very torrent, 
" temped of their fury,' you give them a tem- 
" perance that direfts them from o'erftepping 
" the modcfty of nature, making all blend and 
** Work to intereft us in the event, fo as to roufe 

E2 



^'> "^^^ 



51 THE LlFE or 

^^ and refine our paifions> and with furprife to 
'' efie<St a cataftrophe unexpe&ed-^yet iiich as 
*' humanity would wiihi all which ihew^ that 
*' you arc not only mailer of your fubjcft^ 
'^ and of your art^ but of the human foul : for 
" as you proceed, or, rather, as your Adtors 
** work, they make us fear, love, hate, drcad^ 
'' in obedience to their own motions, and thus 
<^ truly moralize the adion i teaching us, that 
•^ we ought never to defpair, when virtue 
*^ is the caufe and end of our endeavours, 
^^ which is, or ought to be, the fole e|id of the 
"Drama. 

" To point out the beauties of this Tragedy, 
*' would be to analize each fcene, which would 
" greatly exceed the limits of this Letter : yet 
" two or three I will ukc the liberty of obfcrv- 
" ing upon. 

^' Malfechlin's apoftrophe to his foni is of a 
•* noble nature; fimpk, yet eloquent, and truly 
'' pathetic -, and the illuflration of his condition, 
" by the dcfpoiled oath, on the blafted heath, 
" and by the patriotic pathosof liberty Ihcdding 



CHARLBS MACKLIN. 53 

^ team on the graves of bis fons^ miift be 
" diftinguifhed by every mind, even the mean- 
" eft, that has a fenfe of freedom, or a t6uch 
" of tendemefs, — fo pljun and fo juft is the 
*' fublimity, 

'* MorarCs propofing to carry ofF Ernefthuy 
^ marks his charafter well ; it is artfully lug- 
** gcftcd to fap the virtue of a mind, prepared 
** by the madnefs of difappointed love, for an 
" expedient -, and Piele^s agreeing to it, warms 
" the fable, and moralizes that part of it, by 
'^ (hewing, that even the friend of the virtuous 
'^ man is not to be trufted, when enflaved by 
*^ any one paflion. 

*' Your fcene of the Citizen is interefting, 
'^ animated, grand ; and the meeting of Nialt 
^'and Etnefiha^ is unexpected and agree- 
'^ able ; the pathos of it a judicious dramatic 
^* relief from the turbulency of Turgefius, 
*'and the patriotic and paternal dillrcfs of 
'' Malfecbtin. 



54 THE tIFE OF 

" Your touch of mufic, in the diftant 
" Chapel, is a fceming trifk, but yet awful 
" and Shakfpearian. 

" The great fcene between the father and 
" the daughter is beautiful, it arifes fo natu- 
*' rally out of the fable j the fituation is maf- 
" terly ; but had you hinted more clearly her 
*' death, feparation from her father, or her 
" fex's laft difgrace* (only hinted) I think it 
*-' would have made her fituation and her fa- , 
*^ ther's clearer to her, and her apprchenfion 
^^ more exquifite, which would have fent a 
V ftroke of terror tp her heart, that muft have 
*' been chiUingly felt by every reader. 

" This is an hafty opinion, not to be relied 
" on even by myfelf. You, no doubt, have 
" thought deeper on the paffage ;^ and an Au- 
" thor's intimacy and feelings have a right to 
^^ prevail. 

" Piele's confcientious frenzy is deep, in 
** nature, equitable, acd inftruftive ; it is in 

* This was accordingly done in the fecond ^dition. 



CHAkLES MAGRLIN. 55 

" itfelf a diftind morale which fhould he the 
" indifpenfible quality of every Char^fter in 
" the Drama, which you, Sir, have obferved, 
" not only in your principal, but in each of your 
*^ accefiary Charaftcrs. 

" Upon the whole. Sir, you have not only 
" left your Contemporaries behind in the tra- 
" gic courfc, but I really think you have. fur* 
^', paffed yourfelf in ' The Siege of Tamor: 
"lam. Sir, 

" Your very humble Servant 
" G. E. Howard, Efq. " and Admirer, 

" Charles Macklin/' 



C&ap^ IV- 

ON the aad of December, 1772* Mr. 
Macklin wrote from Dublin to Mr. Col- 
man in London, and offered his fcrvices at 
Covent-Gardcn Theatre j and on the 24th of 
January^ 177 3y Mr. Colman anfwcred Mr* 
E4 



56 THE LIFE Of 

Mackfin's Letter, and concluded his EpiftU lA 
the following inviting terms. — " Draw up 
" your own plan, and fend it to mc, and I 
'^ make no doubt of the matter being fettled to 
" our mutual fatisfadion." On the 17th Feb- 
ruary, 1773, Mr, Macklin, in conformity to 
Mr. Colman's kind invitation and requeft, fent 
him his plan, and kt the fame time informed 
him .of the Parts that he intended to aft. 
Amongft other things he told him, *' that he 
^' had thought o( Richard III. Macbeth^ King 
" Lear, and other Parts, fuch as would fuit 
** his time of life, in new or revived Tragedies." 
A variety of other Letters paffed between the 
Parties, the purport of which being fatisfaftory 
to Mr. Macklin, he inimcdiately came to Lon- 
don, to perform at Covent-Garden Theatre in 
purfuaiicc of the agreement between him and 
Mr. Colman, the then Afting Manager. But, 
as doubts afterwards arofe concerning the fVipu- 
latiOn, that Mr. Macklin was to aft Macbethy 
Richard IIL &c. and as the performance of the 
former Charafter was produftive of very fe- 
rious confequences to Mr. Macklin, we fhall 
take the liberty of inferting the following' fhort 



CHARLES MAOKLIN. 57 

hifkory of the tranfaftion, which wc have co-* 
pied from Mr. Macklin's Memorandum-book 
now before us, and which will fully explain the 
caoie of the difgraceful and riotous proceedings 
that afterwards followed. It bears the follow- 
ing title. 

*^ Proofs that Mr, Colman agreed that Mr. 
« MackUnJhould aSt Macbeth and Richard UI. 

*' In the fpring of the year 1773, Mr. fFil- 
*' liam Smithy Comedian, difagreed with Mr. 
" George Colman, the Manager of Covent^. 
" Garden Theatre, and gave notice, in form, 
'' that he fhould not aft in his Theatre in the 
** following feafon. 

** In the couric of the faid ipring, Mr. Smith 
^' aflbciated with Mrs. Tatesy and they jointly 
" ufed their intereft to obtam a Licence to A£t 
" Theatrical Pieces, at the Opera-houfe in the 
^' Hay-Market four nights in the week; but 
** they were refufed a Licence for that pijrpofe. 



58 THE LIFE or 

^^During the time that Mr. Smith was.abr 
" fent from the Covent-Ga|-den Company^ 
" Mr. Macklin entered into an agreement with 
" Mr. Colman^ and it was ftipulated that Mr. 
*' Macklin fhould have a right to aft Macbeth 
" and Richard HI. 

" Mr. Smith being difappointed in his defign 
" of ading at the QperaHoufe, wrqte a Letter, 
*' fomc time in September, to Mr. Colman, 
" offering to return to Covent-Gardenaga^n. 

*' This Letter Mr. Colman (hewed to Mr. 
" Macklin, who afked Colman what was to be 
" done sihout Macl^eth and Richard HI. The 
" anfwcr was, that Macklin fhould ad them. 

" Mr. Colman then Ihewed Mr. MackHn a 
" copy of the Anfwer he had written to Smith, 
" the purport of which was, * that Mr. Col- 
" man was ready to enter into an agreement 
" with Mr. Smith, but obfervcd, that during 
" his (Mr. Smith's) difengagement from Co- 
" vent-Garden Theatre, other Aftors had been 
" engaged by Colman to fupply the Place 



CHAKLES MACKLIN. 59 

*l#f Smith i and that, to fuch Aftors, Colman 
<' had been obliged to affign fome of Smith's 
** Parts ; as they would not on any terms agree 
*^ without fuch aflignmentj and that, in cafe 
" the Proprietors of Co vent-Garden Theatre 
" ihould agree to re-engage the faid Smith, that 
" he muft be fatisfied to take fuch Parts, as 
" the faid Colman could with juftice allot him/ 

" Pending this agreement between Colman 
*' and Smith, Mr. Macklin met Smith in the 
*^ ftreet, when Smith afked Macklin concern- 
*^ ing the particulars of his agreement with 
" Colman, Upon this, Macklin communi- 
" cated to him as many of the particulars of 
"his agreement as he could then recoUcftj 
" and, among the reft, informed him, that he 
*' was to adt two of the Parts that Smith ufed 
"to aft: viz. Macbeth and Richard III. Mr. 
**JVIacklin alfo informed Mr. Smith, that it 
*' was not a pleafing circumftance to perform 
" the Parts of a fellow Aftor, but that it would 
*' be very injurious to him to refign them to- 
** tally, for that his having a right to aft them 
** was his principal inducement to enter into an 



60 THE LIFB OF 

« agreement with Mr. Colman ; but, in onfer 
** to accommodate Smith, Mr. Macklin ob- 
*^ ferved, that if Smith returned to the Com- 
** pany, he (Macklin) would aft Macbeth and 
** Richard alternately with him, as Garrick, 
*' Barry, and Holland had frequently done; 
^* provided that Mr. Colman had no objeftion 
** to this propofed mode of accommodation. 
*' To this propofal Mr. Smith cheerfully agreed 
^ -^-and Mr. Colman, previous to his finally 
*^ agreeing with Smith, acquainted Smith that 
'* he and Mr. Macklin were to aft Macbeth 
** and Richard alternately, and to this propofi- 
*' tion Mr. Smith aflcnted. 

*' Matters being thus arranged, Mr. Smith 
•* refolved to begin with afting LordHafibigSy 
'^ in Jane Shore 5 but when he heard that Mr, 
'' Macklin was to make his firft appearance in 
•' Ricbardy he requefted Mr. Colman that he 
^' might begin with Richard j of which requeft 
^^ Mr. Colman informed Mr. Macklin, who 
*' agreed thereto, but reminded Colman that 
^' he fliould infill upon the agreement of playing 
^* Richard and Macbeth alternately j where- 



CHARLSS MAGKLIN. 6i 

^^ upon Colman declared, that it was pn ^hat 
*^ condition that Smith was permitted to play 
" the Part q{ Richard.'' 

Wc proceed now to the relation of the parti- 
culars of a violent conteft, that took place the 
begbning of this feafon, with refpedt to Mr. 
Macklin's performance of Macbeth. The 
ground of complaint was changed after his fe-» 
cond appearance ;n that Charafter i for his ene- 
mies, inftead of purfuing their criticifms on his 
manner of ading, attacked him with regard 
to his condudt. This arofe from a fpeech 
which Mr. Macklin made, wherein he afierted 
that Mr. Sparks and Mr. Reddifh had hifled 
him in the Gallery of Covent-Garden Theatre, 
on the firft night of his appearance. 

On the Monday following, two affidavits were 
publilhed in the Newfpapers, the one was made 
by Mr. Rcddilh, in which he folemnly declared 
that he never hifled, nor fhewed any other mark 
of public difapprobation ; and the other was 
made by Mr. Sparks, and corroborated that of 
Mr. Rcddilh. During the whole week the 



62 THE LIFE Ot 

Ncwfp^pcrs were filled with fquibs on both 
fides, and, on the Saturday, Mr. Macklin ap- 
peared, for the third time, in Macbeth. 

Previous to the Play, he came on in his own 
Charafter, with a Manufcript in his hand ; and, 
after a violent uproar in the Theatre, was al- 
lowed to read part of it, which contained the 
proofs of his former affertion, relative to the 
condudt of Meffrs* Sparks and Reddifh. 

After this Mr. Macklin performed Macbeth 
with great fpirit and judgment, notwithftand- 
ing the cmbarraffmcnt he muft neceffarily have 
felt, from what hadpafled, and met with un- 
bounded applaufe. 

Mortified 'at the great approbation that Mr. 
Macklin received in this Charafter, and fearful, 
if he was permitted to go on, that his wonderful 
abilities in the tragic line would eclipfe feveral 
other favourite Performers, his enemies formed 
the diabolical defign of entering into a conlpi- 
racy to drive him for ever from the Stage,, and, 
confeqyently, deprive him of his livelihood. 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 6j 

Mr. Macklin, being apprifed of his dan- 
ger, very wifely determined not to perfonii 
Macbeth the next time of his appearance, but 
to aft the Part of Shy lock, a Charafter in which 
he confefTedly flood without a Competitor, and 
his excellent afting of which could not afFeft the 
reputation of any other Performer. 

However, his incomparable merit in Shylock 
did not proteft him from the private premedi- 
tated malice of the Confpirators : — the die was 
caft, and he was doomed to eternal banifliment 
from thcBritifti Theatre. On the night of his 
appearance in Shylock, his enemies arranged 
themfelves in battle array in different parts of 
the Houfe, and", as foon as the Curtain was 
drawn up, a fignal was given for the riot to 
commence. The Theatre appeared like a 
Bear-garden — the Aftors were not permitted 
to go on with the Play — the Confpirators 
triumphed — and Mr. Macklin was difmiffed 
the Stage, In this dilemma his good fenfe di- 
refted him to refort to the laws of his Country 
for redrcfs. 



64 THE tlFE OP 

In the year 1774 Mr. Macklm proceeded in 
the Kino's Bench againft feveral of the Con-^ 
fpiratorsi and, to his immortal honor be it 
recorded, afferted the rights and privileges of 
an Ad:or in a Britifli Theatre* 

We are extremely happy to have it in our 
power to prefent the reader, ia the following 
pages, with the. whole of the proceedings on 
this important trial, which have nevir before 
been publijhedi and which were taken in Ihort 
hand hy\Mt. Gurney, exclufively for the Pro- 
fecutor, corrcdtcd by Mr. Macklin himfelf^ and 
revifed by the celebrated Mr. Dunning, who 
was Mr. Macklin's Counfcl on the occafion. — 
Mr. Macklin never a6tcd fo well as he did in 
the King's Bench. He convifted the Con- 
fpirators, and afterwards extended his mercy 
towards them. But he did more than this 1 — 
he has cftabliflied a Precedent, by which he has 
(hicldcdall other Aftors from any fimilar out- 
rage in future, and erected a monument to his 
own fame niore durable than brafs. But wc 
flxall refer the reader to the following pro- 
ceedings. 



6harles mackli^. 65 

Trinity Term, 14 Geo. III. B. R- 

Saturday, June ii^ 1774. 

The Kino, 

On the Profecution of Charles Macklin, Elq. 

Againft 
jfoHji Stephei* James, Esq^ and others. 

The Rule Niji obtained in this Caufe was 
tead and is as follows : yiz| 

" Monday next a^ter five weeks from the 
" Fcaft-day of Eafter, in the fourteenth year of 
""' King George the Third* 

Middlefex. '^ It is ordered. That the fifth 
*' day of next Term be peremptorily further 
" given to John Stephen James, Jofeph Clarke, 
*^Efquires, Ralph Aldus, Gentleman, Wil^ 
'^^ liam Auguftus Miles, Thomas Leigh, and 
•^^ James Sparks, ' to fhcw caufe why an Infor- 
" mation Ihould not be exhibited againft them 
" for certain confpiracies, riots^ and mifde- 
" meanours, upon the undertaking of the faid 
. " Defendants, that if fuch Information Ihould 
^^ be granted, they will appc^ar thereto immc- 

YohAh F 



66 THX i:.iFB or 

«^ diately ; and it is further ordered^ that all 
" Affidavits on behalf of the faid Defendants 
'^ be filed four days before the next Term. 

*^ On the motion of Mr, Wallace, 

" LordMansfield, Chief Juftice. Who fhews 

caufc ? 

" Mr. .Wallace. I fhew caufe for Aldus. 

^ Mr. Bearcroft. I fhew caufe for James. 

" Mr- S. Davy. I fhew caufe for Sparks. 

" Mr. Mansfield. I fhew caufe for Clarke. 

" Mr. Norton. I am for Miles, 

" Mr. Buller. lam for Leigh. 

" Mr. Dunning. Your Lordfhip is fully ap- 
prifed of the charge, and rf the nature of the 
anfwersi — here arc fix Defendants, and fix 
Counfel. 



dHARLES MACKLIN« 6*f 

^* Lord Mansfield. I fee they defend as not 
knowing each other^ and taking the Charge 
feparately. 

" Mr» Serjeant Davy* It is fo t — and it is 
fworn, in the Affidavits, they never faw one 
another, and were* as much ftrangcrs to one 
another, as I am to them. 

** Lord Mansfield. There is a charge againft 
the man who brought the body into the Houfe; 
kt him begin. 

" Mr. Buller* That man Was in Ireland at 
the time the Rule was granted, and is not come 
back. 

'* Lord Mansfield. Then he don't fhew 
caufe : — have they ferved him in Ireland ? 

*^^Mr. Dunning to Mr. Buller. ,You, upon 
his behalf, then, enlarged the Rule againft him: 
it was enlarged upon his behalf. 

" Lord Mansfield* • That is enough*. 
Fa 



6i THB LIFE OF 

" Mr. BuUcr. I nientioned there being a 
probability of his coming home, and therefore 
I enlarged the Rtile as to him ; otherwife it 
would be impoffiblc for him to appear, he being 
in Ireland long before the Rule obtained. It 
'was a {lip : there is an Affidavit of his then being 
in Ireland. 

•' Lord Mansfield. Mr. Buller fays it was a 
flip, if it was enlarged, as he had then an Affi- 
davit diat Leigh was in Ireland at the time the 
Rule was granted : What do you fay to that, 
Mr. Dunning ? 

" Mr. Dunning. My Lord, I am not fatis- 
fied there was any fuch flip---I am not fatis- 
ficd there was any fuch Affidavit. If your 
Lordfliip obferves, the Rule was enlarged by 
Mr. Wallace for three, he being Counfel now 
for one ; alnd it was enlarged by Mr. Buller for 
three, he being now likewife for one j at that 
time there was no diftinftion made between 
them i the Rule was to be enlarged for all. 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 6^ 

^* Lord Mansfield to Mr. BuUer. You muft 
bring an Affidavit of the fad, and make a Spe- 
cial Cafe to have it argued, why this general Rule 
Ihould not prevail againft Leigh among the reft ? 

" Mr. BuUer. There is no Affidavit of fcr- 
vice upon him;— -they could not ferve him. 

*' Lord Mansfield, Then why did you en- 
large the Rule ? 

^' Mr Serjeant Davy. I had no Brief in the 
bufinefs, at the time the Gentlemen refer to. 
In the laft Term I had a Brief brought me, to 
fhew caufe for Leigh and Sparks. I was. afto- 
niflied to find, when I had read it quite through, 
that there was nothing faid of Mr. Leigh, or on 
his behalf, as there was an Affidavit by his wife 
of his abfence. Upon looking into the Rule, and 
finding it enlarged generally, I inquired, and did 
not underftandany body was particularly Counfel 
for Leigh, at the time the Ruk was enlarged. 

" Mr. Davenport. Mr. Wallace enlarged 
fhe Rule to this Term, for Miles, Clarke, and 



yo THE LiFi or 

Aldus i and Mr. BuUcr for Leigh, Sparks, an4 
James, 

^^ Lord Mansfield. It certainly was fo, 

*' Mr. BuUer. We can prove it was a inif-» 
take — a flip, • ' 

'* Mr. Dunning, • I apprehend it was no 
mift?tke of Mr. BuUer's, but of the inftruftions 
brought to him. 

" Lord Mansfield, He muft have had in- 
ftruftions to enlarge the Rule, as to thofe three, 

^^ Mr. Punning. I heard Mr. Serjeant Davy 
fay, jufl: now, that his Brief inftrudts him to de-. 
fend Leigh and Sparks, . 

^' Mr. Blake, I fent a letter to Mr. Leigh 
to inform him of it i he has nbt returned me an 
anfwer. I have an Affidavit of his being out of 
the Kingdom, before the Rule was granted. 



(t 



Mr, Macklin, My Lord, that Leigh was 



J 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 71 

inLoiKiofi when the Rule#was ferredcanbe 
proved, 

** Mr. Blake/ We will put the whole upon 
that> Mr. Macklin> ifyoupleafe, 

'^ Mr^ Punnbg. Mr. Macklin will be fo 
good as to recolleft where we are. — Your Lord- 
fhip fees what a fituatioit we ihould have been 
in. We fhould have loft the vacation^ which 
might have been employed m fcrving him— 
the enlarging the Rule upon his behalf^ fub- 
je£bs him to ftand^this day and (hew caufei 
and if what has been already done is not to be 
taken for fcrvice, he never will be ferved. 

'^ Lord Mansfield. They don't deny it was 
enlarged with regard to him> and meant to be' 
enlarged upon his part. Mr. Buller fays^ can- 
didly andfairly^ he thought Leigh would have 
been over^ and that he got it enlarged upon 
that fuppofition, 

'* Mr. Serjeant Davy. Certainly I can Ihcw 
no caufc for Leight 

F4 



7* THE LIFB OP 

" Lord Mahsficld. Are yoxj all afraid of be« 
ginning? Can't you agree who Ihall begin? 

'^ Mr. Bearcroft. My Lord, . I am not afraid 
to begin for Mr. James, the firft in the Rule--^ 
in point of form I ought to begin; in point of 
fubftance, I ought to be the laft : for RJr. James 
has very little to do in this bufinefe, in propor-^ 
tion with fome of the reft; but as he is brought 
upon the Stage in this Character, by Mr. Mack- 
lin, he muft perform his Part, and when the 
Court come to fee his •behaviour, if they don't 
dilmifs him with applaufe, tJiey will difmifs him 
at Icaft without any ccnlure. In order to un- 
derftand Mr. James's cafe, (fince Mr. Mack^ 
lin's Affidavits have not been read) it is nccef- 
fary for me fhortly to ftatc what they contain 
upon this charge, and it is material to attend to 
the particular times, in which James is charged 
to be aftive in this bufincfs. Mr. Macklin, 
and his friend, Mr. KcvcnhuHcr Skinner, fay, 
* that, upon the 13th of November laft, Mr. 
James, together with Mr. Aldus, an Attorney at 
Law, was very violent at the head of a party, in 
the Two Shilling Gajlcry of Govcnt-Gardcn 



I 



CHARLES M^ACKLIN. 73 

Theatre; that they and their party were the 
chief perfons who made the difturbance;' arid 
there is this particular charge againft James, ' that 
he infilled that a Mr. Smith, one of the Aftors 
of the faid Theatre, (hould perform the Part of 
Macbeth, which was to have been exhibited 
that evening.' Then Mr. Macklin and Mr. 
Skinner fay, likewiie, * that, upon the i8th of 
iaid November, Mr. James appeared again at 
the faid Theatre, in concert with Mr. Aldus 
and Mr. Miles, in eonfequence of a confpiracy 
together, and that they made a violent riot j* 
and it is exprcfsly charged that James, among 
others, ' called upon Mr. Macklin to kneel down 
upon the Stage, and aflc pardon.' Thefe arc 
the Charges againft Mr. James, for whom I am 
concerned, with fome general allegations to in- 
flame ; and Mr. Macklin afferts, in his Affidavit, 
that he believes the fole caufe ofhis difcharge fronx 
the Theatre was occafioned !by> and owing to, 
thefe riotous proceedings. I have an Affidavit of 
Mr. James's, which, if lam not very much mifta- 
ken, totall^^xculpates him from any thing of the . 
fort, charged by the Information in this Caufe, 
Though, perhaps, Mr. James was not fo per^ 



74 THE LIFE or 

fe£Uy quiet) as be could now wifh he had hecn$ 
yet, your Lordfiiip will find, upon his Aflj- 
davit, that he did nothing more than is done 
every day, when an Auditor does not like an 
Aftor. He tells you he was there, when Mr. 
Macklin himfelf does not introduce him : he has 
no rclu^ance in teUing how often he attended 
the exhibition of Macbeth y and the whole of his 
conduct while there. He tells your Lordfliip, 
that he went there upon the 6th of faid No- 
vember, when he is not charged with being 
there: he fays, he went in company with his 
wifej that may fatisfy your Lordlhip he meant 
to be quiet; for, to procure quiet at home, he 
took his wife with him, and went into the Two 
Shilling Gallery; he did not mean to niake a 
riot, having his wife with him; and it might 
be well if every perfon*s wife was as quiet as 
Mr. James's. But your Lordfhip will find 
there was another ILady, a Lad;^ Machtb, who 
was not fo quiet in this bufinefs ; for fhe thought 
proper to aft in the Charafter her hufband was 
^that night to perform — therefore flie was not 
quite fo quiet — and her, hufband, inftead of 
performing the Character of Macbeth^ chofe to 



chari.es mAcklin, 75 

exhibit a great part of his own Charaftcr, In- 
ftead of going on with the Play, he produced a 
vaft number of Newfpapers, with which he was 
difpofcd to aft his Part in the Caufe, and ap- 
pealing to them was his method of a&ing, till 
Mr. Dunning took the Charafter from him, 
who will aft much better for him, if he will 
let him alone; — thus the Caufe was taken from 
the Audience, which feemed to be an accufa- 
tion thrown out againft Macklin, of faying, that 
a Mr. Reddilh> had hiflcd him; it feems Mr. 
Macklin appealed to the Newfpapers, and 
charged Mr. Reddifh and Mr. Sparks with hav- 
ing hiffed him. This charge Mr. Reddifh and 
the other denied in the Public Papers, by Affi- 
davits fwom before My Lord Mayor, or fomc 
Juftice of the Peace. Mr. Macklin was angry 
that he had thrown out a falfe charge, and in 
order to exculpate himfelf, was prepared with 
Papers, when he came upon the Stage, and was 
going to tnter upon his exculpation, and that 
produced the firft riot. Moft of the Audience 
difapproved of Mr. Macklin's proceedings in 
this bufinefs, and though it was his own ap- 
peal to the public^ yet he did not chule that 



76 THE LIFE OF 

Mr. James and the others fliould fhew their 
difapprobation by hifling, which is the ufual 
manner upon fuch application; cither hiffing 
or clapping : that was all that pafled upon the 
6th of November; then, upon the 13th, the 
time when it is charged, that Mr. James was 
at the Theatre, the queftion then arofe, ^ whe- 
ther Mr. Macklin had not been extremely 
wrong in this falfc charge upon Mr. Reddilh 
and others,' and it was the judgment of the 
Houfe that he had, and Mr. James was, in truth, 
oncofthofe judges who was of opinion it was im- 
proper behaviour, and Mr. Macklin was called 
upon for fome conceflions, for that he had been in 
the wrong. Mr. James fays * he fat in the 
Two Shilling Gallery, and that he, with the reft, 
called out for a conceflion, for this bad behaviour 
of Macklin, which he had no fooner done, than 
a Lady, who fat fome little diftance from him, 
ftarted up, and immediately ftruck Mr. James.* 
This fignal, it feems, was to be given, toge- 
ther with the expreflion the Lady made ufe ofy 
^ this is one of the fcoundrels who ihifled,' or 
to that efFeft ; upon which a Man ftarted up, 
jwd fcconded the Lady, being clofc by her^ 



CHARLES MAOKLIN. 7^ 

and immediately ftruf k Mr. James i upon this a 
fcuffle enfuedj and a third pcrfon arofe, and ftruck 
Mr. James : this feems to be rather unfortunate 
for Mr. James ; for^ if he did wrong, he was 
very well punilhed upon the fpot, without 
having the punifhnient of this Court : — they 
tumbled him between two benches, and one or 
two got upon hijrn and beat him. Your Lord- 
Ihip may coiiceive the confequences might 
have been very ferious to him. — He fays, * he 
had a fuf^icion who this virago Lady, that be- 
gun the bufinefs, was j he fuppofed her to be 
a Relation of Mr. Macklin, and he defired a 
friend of his, who appeared in the Gallery, to 
follow this Lady home, to fee who fhe was;' 
Jie found out the houfe fhe went to, which had 
the name '^ Macklin'* upon the door. Every 
one believes the Lady, who began this aflault 
upon Mr. James, was Mrs. Macklin, wife of 
Mr. Macklin, who makes this application.-— 
The prefent queftion is, * Whether or no there 
was a concerted defign and confpiracy between 
thefe Parties to hurt Mr. Macklin?' This 
would be a bad bufinefs indeed, and every per- 
fon muft feel it fo. But Mr. James dcnjes the 



7^ fttE LIF2 6f 

charge in thefc terras : viz. * That he had hot 
tlic leaft knowledge before of Mr. Aldus^ or 
any of the reft> and abfolutcly denies that he 
called upon Mr. Smith to perform in the Cha^ 
rafter o( Macbeth, inftead of Mr. Macklin, or 
for any purpofe whatfoever.' And though 
Mr. Macklin has been too hot and hafty in 
charging Mr* James with making ulc of thefc 
cxpreffions, they are material expreflions, per- 
haps, and material to be denied, for they enter 
into the very purpofe, fuppofed to^be a pre- 
face to the proceedings of the reft of thefc 
Perfons, by calling upon Mr* Smith to per- 
form the Part of Macbeth : this he fvilly de- 
nies. He is charged with hiding, hooting, and 
abufing every Perfon near him ; but he puts a 
negative upon this by his Affidavit, w:herein 
he fhews the ufage he received from the hands 
of Mrs. Macklin and her Friends, He fays, 
* the next morning he waited upon Mr. Col- 
man, the Afting Manager of the Playhoufe, to 
procure an interview with Mr. Macklin, in 
order to find out from whom he received thofe 
blows; that he did not mean to profecute,- 
with rcfpea to her, but would put up with the 



CHAHLSS MACKLIM« . 79 

blows he received from her/ Mr. Colman 
took a great deal o£ pains to procure « meeting 
between Macklin ajid James^ to have the mat^ 
ter explained ; but, your Lordfliip will find, 
that was diligently avoided by Mr. Macklin, 
though he had full notice. Now, fuppofing 
for a moment, that Mr. James himfelf was at 
all to blame, will your Lordlhip grant an In^ 
formation upon 'the application of this Mr. 
Macklin, from whofe wife, and two of his 
Friends (for thofe men niuft be taken for hi^ 
Friends) if Mr. James had behaved at all ill, 
he received ample punifhment from their hands, 
fuch as I have before reprefented i and when 
Mr. Macklin refufed to meet him, or to affift 
him in his inquiry after thefc Perfons, I 
Ihould^fubmit, that would be a ground for re- 
filling this Information to Mr. Macklin. The 
Court requires, when an application is made to 
them for an Information, for a riot or a breach 
of the peace, or other bad behaviour, that 
there fliould be nothing of the fort on the part 
of the Perfbn who makes the application. 
Another charge againfl Mr. James is, ' that he 
roared out for Mr. Macklm to kneel down 



t6 tHE LIFE OF 

Upon his knees, and that he menaced Mr; 
Macklin with his flick or cane -,' that is a mate-* 
rial charge, and material to be denied j that is 
denied in the fulleft manner in the world. He 
abfolutely denies in words, that he roared out 
to Mr. Macklin to down upon his knees, of 
menaced Mr. Macklin with his ftick^ as charged 
in the Affidavits — for Deponent pofitively fwears 
he had no ftick.or cane whateVer with him that 
evMing; that is material i the truth is no more 
than this, they muft have taken fomc other 
perfon to be him. Now, with refped: to tht 
Confpiracy between thefe Parties, to do the 
mifchiefi which is the material part, there is 
the moft abfolutc and pofitive denial that can 
be in any form of words. Mr. James fays, ' he 
tiiras there upon the 1 8th of November -^ thit he 
was a perfedt ftranger to Williatn Auguftus 
Miles, James Sparks, Jofeph Clarke^ Ralph 
Aldus, and Thomas Leigh, or any dt either of 
thittiy to drive the faid Mr. Macklin from the 
Stage, nor had any meeting with any perfon Or 
perfons whatever for that purpofe, nor dcfircd 
any perfon to expel the faid Macklin from the 
Stage. All thift Deponent wanted was for him 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 8l 

to anfwer for his conduft relating to thofe 
charges againft«Mr. Reddifli and Mr. Sparky, 
and that was the whole of the bufinefs, and de- 
nies that he was in any confpiracy, or knew of 
any conlpiracy, againfl. Mr. Macklin. That 
with refpedt to himfelf^ he has been fufficiently 
ill ufed, and more than fufficiently puniflied at 
the time; through the behaviour of the wife' 
of Mr. Macklin j for if there was any caufe of 
revenge, fhe and her two Affiftants fully re- 
venged the caufe, while my Client was down 
between the two benches; therefore, my Lord, 
I conceive this is a fiill anfwer ta the charge, 
and that your Lordlhip will not make the Rule 
abfolute againft Mr. James. 

" Mr. James's Affidavit read in Court. 

" The Affidavit of John Stephen Jamca, 
" Efq. fworn the a 8th May, 1774. 

" Saith, That on the 6th of November laft, to 
" the beft of Deponent's knowledge and belief, 
" as to the time. Deponent went in company 
" with his wife to Covent-Garden Theatre, to 
" fee the Tragedy of Macteti, whtrein Mr. 

Vol. II. G 



8^ THi if Fs or 

^^ Charks Macklin was to perfi^rtti the Part d 
'' Macbeth^ being the third time of his ap- 
^' pearing in that Charadter ; laith» they weit 
^' in the Two Shilling Gallery^ and that before 
<^ the beginning of the Play Mr. Macklia came 
" on the Stage, with a large parcel of Papers 
*' in his hands, which he began to read* the 
^ purport of which was to prove, that Mr. 
*^ Reddifh and Mr. Sparks had hififed him the 
•' firft night of his performing f«d Part of 
" Macbeth / faith, that on hearing feme 
'< read, it appeared to Deponent, that there 
« was no fufficient proof of either faid Reddifh 
^' or Sparks hiflSng, neither did Deponent 
•^^ think a mere relation fiifficaent to eontradi^ 
" the oaths of faid Reddifh and Sparks, which 
" they had refpcftively made, denying that faid 
" Reddifh had hifTed on the 23d Oftober, co- 
*' pies whereof were inferted in the Newfpa- 
^* pers, and Deponent did therefore dilapprovc 
" of faid Macklin's behaviour, hf the common 
^^ mode of hiffing) and feith, nothing more 
^' particular pafTcd that evening, and the Play 
*f wasi heard through, during the performanct 



CHARLES WACKLIN. 8j 

5* o{ which Deponent applauded or hiflcd, as 
** he approved or difapproved. 

" Saith, That on the 13th of fame Nov^m** 
" ber. Deponent went to faid Theatre, to fee 
" the Tragedy of Machtb^ being the fourth 
^' time that Mr. Macklin performed faid Charac^ 
^' ter, and fat in the Two Shilliiig QaUery j faitb^ 
'^^ that a$ faid Macklin had not produced the 
" pofitive proof of Reddilh and Sparks's hiding, 
'^ as he pledged himfclf to the public to do, Dc- 
** poneiit, as well as many others, called out for 
*^ fuqh proof, or a conccffion ; and faith, that 
'^ on his calling out for fuch proof or conceflTion^ 
" a wcxnan, fome little diftance frojn Deponent, 
^^ ftarted up and ftf uck Deponent, and faid^ 
" ^ This is (Mie of the fcoundrcls who hiffed,' 
" or ufed words to that effect ; on which a man, 
*/^wh ♦ appeared to be fitting next her, inunc- 
^' diately ftarted up, and alfo ftruck Deponent) 
*^ who returned his blows, and continued fo to 
"do, till his' companions took him away. 

, " Saith^ That fome little rime after faid fray 
*5 happened, but during the performance of th« 
O2 



94 • THE LIFE OF 

" faid Play, as Deponent was endeavouring 16 
*' find out faid man, who had ftruck him, a 
^^ Gentleman, whom Deponent has not the 
" leaft knowledge of, pointed out the man, 
" who had ftruck him; and told Deponent, if 
** he was looking for the man who had ftruck 
*^ him, that was' him, or words to that effefl: ,- 
" faith, upon his*, going up to the faid p'erfon 
" who had fo ftruck him, another man imme- 
" diately rofc up and, ft ruck Deponent, which 
" Wow was followed by feveral others, from 
*^ feveral perfons who were fitting near faid 
*' man who had firft ftruck Deponent, and 
" Deponent was knocked down between the 
" two benches, and fome Perfon or Perfons 
" ftamped on Deponent's breaft, and other 
** parts of his body j and faith, if his Friends 
*' who went with him, and fomc other Gentle- 
" men, had hot interpofed, and prevented faid 
*' perfons from continubg their ill ufage to 
** him, the confequcnce would have proved 
" very dangerous to Deponent. 

*' Saith, That immediately after he had been 
" fo relcafcd from the difagrceablc fituation ht 



CHARLES MACKLIN. S5 

** was in between the two Benches, he went 
*^ into the Paflage of the faid Gallery, where 
" he was addrelftd by a Gentleman, who in- 
" formed him he was a Patentee of faid Theatre, 
" (and whom Deponent believes, and has been 
^^ fince informed, was Mr. Dagge) anddefired 
" Deponent to give him his addrefs, which De- 
*' ponent did, and then faid he had heard De- 
" ponent had been ufed very ill, and pointed to 
" a perfon, who, he faid, was the Conftable of 
"the Theatre, and had orders from him to 
" take out any perfon or pcrfons, whom De- 
" ponent ,lhould fix on, who had ufed him ill. 

" Saith, he then went into the Gallery with 
** the Conftable, to fearch for the firft man who 
" had ftruck Deponent, but could not find him j 
" and, on his coming into the Gallery, with 
** the Conftable, he obfcrved the woman who 
'* had ftruck him rifmg from her feat, to go 
" out ; and, as Peponent was following her> 
'* with a view of finding out who ftie was, De- 
" ponent met Mr. Lucas, of Charing Crofs, 
*f,who was then coming into the Gallery, on 
** which Deponent defired Mr. Lucas to watch 



86 THE LIFE Qf 

•* faid woman home, which he accordingly did, 
•' and fiiid Lucas returned to faid Theatre in 
" about twenty minutes, and informed Depo- 
^' nent, that he had foDowed her into a houfe 
^^ in James-Street, Covent-Garden, with the 
^^ name of '^ Macklin** on the door, and there- 
^' foreDeponent at that time verily believed, and 
" doth now believe, that faid woman who 
^^ ftruck Deponent firft, and whom faid Lucas 
^^ followed to faid houfe, on the door of which 
^' houfe was wrote *« Macklin^'^ to be Mrs. 
** Macklin, wife of faid Charles Macklin. 

^^ Saith> That being fo ill ufed in the Theatre, 
*' he was obliged to quit fame during the time 
^* the fifth Aft was performing ; denies being at 
^^ the head of, or forming, any party or parties 
*^ againft Mr. MackHn performing faid Cha- 
*^ rafter of Macbeth^ (mi faid 13th November, 
** and abfohitsely denies having at that time the 
** kaft knowledge of Mr. Ralph Aldus; and 
*• alfo denies that he called on Mr. Smith to 
^* play faid Charafter of Machethy inftead of 
** faid Macklin, or for any other purpofc 
^^ whatfoever \ and alfo denies, that he hi&d. 



CHAXLSS MACKtIN, S7 

^ hooted^lor stbufed tho& who defired him to 
*' be quiet, 

*' Saith, That on the Monday morning fol- 
^* lowing^ he waited on Mr. Colman, the Afting 
" Manner of the faid Theatre, to rcqueft of him 
^[ to ufe his influence to obtain an interview with 
" Mr. Macklin, in order to prevail oo Mr; 
" Macklin to ufe his utmoft endeavours to find 
*' out the feveral perfbns who ufed Deponent 
"ill the preceding ajghti that Mn Colman 
^ fent his lenrant to faid Macklin> to obtain 
" fuch btcrview, which fervant brought bach; 
*' fpr anfwer that faid Macklin was not at home s 
*« that faid Colman promifed Deponent to fpcak 
" to Macklin, and to procure a meeting with 
*^ him, and that he would give Deponent notice 
'* of fuch meeting i that in the evening of fame 
*• day he received a Note from Mr. Colman, in* 
<' forming him, that foon after Deponent left 
♦^ faid Colmah*s houfe, faid Macklin came, an4 
^' refijfed to have any meeting or converfation 
^' with Deponent on the fubjedtj^ in which faid 
^' Note from Colman to Deponent, was inclofed 
'* one from Macklin to Colman, informing feid 
G4 



tS THE LIFE OF 

" Colman that faid Macklin refufed ta meet 
" Deponent. 

" Saith, That on or about the 17 th of faid 
" November, Deponent did caufe to be infcrted 
^* in the Morning Chronicle, a Letter, addrefled 
" to faid Macklin, in the words following : 
" (that is to fay) 

<' ' Sir, 
'* ' I call upon you thus publicly to declare 
*^ your reafons for refufing to meet me at Mn 
'* Colman's, or elfewhere ; as likewifc who 
*^ the Gentlewoman is, who firft ftruck, and 
" then fct a Ruffian to affaultme, on Saturday 
*' evening laft, in the Gallery of Covcnt-Gar- 
" den, fhe bemg afterwards watched into your 
*' Houfe, in James-Street, Covent-Garden. 
«' This I muft infift upon, as I intend then to 
*' leave you to the flings of your own malevo- 
^' lent heart, and the refentment of the much 
** abufcd public. 

*^ I am. Sir, 
*' Your very humble Servant, 

*^ J, S, James/ 



CHARLES MACKtlS. 89 

** Saith, That faid Macklin took no kind of 
" notice of faid Letter, either in a public or 
^* private manner, and faith, that^ receiving no 
*< anfwer from Mr. Macklin, he went to faid 
** Theatre on the i8th of faid November, with 
'^ two Gentlemen only, who had dined with him 
*^ that day, at his Lodgings in Bridge-Street, 
" and went into the Pit, with an intent to fee 
** the Play of the Merchant of Venice^ in which 
" Play faid Macklin was to perform the Part of 
" Sbylocky and likewife publicly to repeat the 
^' queftion to Macklin, whether he knew the 
" woman or man who ftruck Deponent on 
*^ 13 th November, in the Two Shilling Gallery, 
« as aforeiaid ; but the confufion and noife on 
" Macklin's appearance on the Stage, Dcpo- 
*' nent prefumes, prevented faid Macklin from 
" hearing laid queftion. 

" Pofitively denies that he roared out to 
'* Macklin to down on his knees, or that he 
*' menaced faid Macklin with his ftick, for he 
" had no ftick or cane> of any kind whatfoever, 
" with him durmg that evening ; and faith, that 
" on 1 8th November laft, he was a pcrfeft 



90 THS LIFS OF 

»^ ftraoger to Miks^ Sparks, Lcighj aay or 
«* either of tbcms and never had any converfao- 
^' lion with aU or any of them, or with Clarke 
^* or Aldus, or cither of them, to drive fai4 
^ Macklia off the Stage, nor did Deponent 
^' enter into any combination, confpiracy, or 
*♦ agreement, with any perfbn whomfoever, for 
*^ that purpofc, nor did Deponent fay or expref$ 
*^ any defire to e^pel faid Macklin from the 
*^ Stage J for all that Deponent wanted was an 
<< anfwer to his queftion, and an apology for 
<* faid Macklin's condud: towards the faid Red-i^ 
«^dilh and Sparks/* 

" Mr, Dunning. The woman going into 
the Houfe with the name of MaekHn over 
the Door, is no proof, your Ix>rdfliip fees, 
that Ihc was Mrs, Macklin; on the con^ 
trary, (he is found out to be another perfon, 

" Mr, Murphy, It is a Lodging-houfe, 
where there are fcveral Families* 

" Mr, BuUer. My Lord, I am of Counfel 
likewife on the part of Mr. James. The only 



CHAHtBS'MACKtlN. 9I 

pofitivc charge is, that on the i8th of Novem- 
ber laft, he ftood up in the Pit, and with voci- 
ferations called to Mr. Macklin to kneel down^ 
and menaced him with a ftick ; as to the reft, 
refpefting the charge "upon the former day, it 
only extends to belief : Mr. Macklin has fworn, 
and upon his belief refers to another fad, which 
really b not fo^ as in the Affidavit it appears 
to be fwom, by another perfon's Affidavit^ 
that James infifted that Smith fhould take Mr, 
Macklin's Part. Mr. Macklin's Affidavit doea 
not &y that James was the man who caUed upon 
Mr. Smith to a£t Mr. Macklin's Part ; and 
there is no other exprefs charge, but that on the 
iSth of November, againft James, which is, 
his csdling out to Mr. Macklin to kneel down^ 
and the menacing him with a ftick or cane.-*- 
All the rdi: of the Affidavit is nothing to Mr. 
James: the greateft part of it is <»ily ietting 
out Mr. Macklin's merit, 

*• Mr. James appears, from the firft time, to 
be infulted by people who can>e there, and tht 
woman, who firft began the difturbance, wa« 
traced to Mr, Macklin's houfcj he Iwi notice. 



gi THE LIFE OF 

and was called upon to give an account^ if he 
knew who die perfons were who had ufed 
James fo ill. But what was Mr. Macklin's 
conduct : he refufes to meet him, and gives no 
anfwer whatfoever, which was not an implicit 
rcafon, that he did not know who they were. 
If he did not know who they were, as I think 
he muft know, he 'might have fo informed Mr. 
James; but he had reafon to fufpc<5t who they 
were, Mr, Macklin is faid to have firft ap- 
pealed to the public; I fhould have thought his 
difcretion would have diftated to him to abide 
by their opinion, let it be what it would; but 
with refpeft to his prefent application to a 
Court of Juftice, he is not entitled to the Icaft 
favour or countenance whatfoever; for he 
brought his complaint, in the moft public and 
fplemn manner he could, ag^nft two people in 
the fame profeffion with himfelf, and which 
complaint, if proved, muft have been attended 
with all the fatal confequences, to thofe two 
Gentlemen, that Mr. Macklin feems to appre- 
hend nowi the complaint was made by him to 
thie Audience ; they heard it with patience ; the 
complaint they found was not true, but ap- 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 93 

pcared to be falfe; I don't know any more ge- 
nerous condud: for any man to have adopted 
upon this occafion, where there was a faMc 
charge brought againft two men, which, as 
public men, mull have been attended with 
very injurious confequences to thofe Gentle- 
men, if found true, than, where it was found 
fidle, to exprels horror upon the occafion. It 
appears, that all that Mr. James defired, was, 
to have an account of thofe people who had 
ufed him ill. James had Ihewn his own opi- 
nion, which he had a right to maintain, and he 
was juftificd in hilling to Ihcw his difapproba- 
tion; for when this Motion was firft made, be- 
fore it was furbilhed up with this ground of 
conlpiracy, which has been fince added, at that 
time the Court faid there was no ground for an 
Information. Now they have foifted in the 
ground of confpiracy, which they have not 
made out. It is denied, in the moft pofitivc 
terms, refpefting the ftick being held up in 
the Pit; it is denied, in the moft pofitive terms, 
that James knew any thing of the other De- 
fendants; upon the contrary, he went as a 
finglc mart; neither has he entered into any 



p4 ^HE ttrt tyt^ 

tonfpinkcy or combination whtterer. Mn 
Macklin might hare put an end to it> if ht 
pleafed> even a^rhis having made his appeal 
CO the public in the manner he didi ^en he 
was called upon by Mn James^ he might have 
anlwered him> by giving him an account of 
diofe Perfons from whom he had fuffcred fo 
rnuch^ When he was knocked down between 
the benches, where he was lacked and ilamped 
upon, whichmight have been attended with fatal 
confcquences to his perfon j but when called 
iipon,MrrMacklin refufes to give him any anfwer, 
or meet him. Upon the whole, it appears 
there is no kindof eonfpiracy in the conduct of 
Mr. James, and therefore no ground for this 
Information. 

^ Lord Mansfield. Who is in fupport of 
the Rule ?— Go on with them one by one. 

" Mr. Wallace^ Will the Court give Judg- 
ment one by one ? 

** Mr. Dunning. Yes, and execute them one 
by one. If your Lordihips pleafc to favour 



CHAHLBS MACKtIK. 9| 

me a few words upon this caie» ib f«r as the 
Rule aflfeAs the pcrfon, for whom the two 
Gendemen have been flicwing Caufe: youf 
LonMhip will recoUeA what has been ftatjcd 
from the Affidavits, containing that charge 
which is fiipporDcd not by Mr. Macklm only, 
but, in the material parts of it, by two or three 
other people, Mu Macdonnel and his wife^ 
and Mr. Kevenhuller Skinner. 

*' Mr» SuUer thought good to fuppole thefc 
people did not fwear pofitively to the feft, or 
at all to it, and that Macklin fpeaks to belief 
oriiy of the fads that pafled on the 13th No- 
vember laft. Your Lordfliip, by referring to 
thofe Affidavits, will corrcft that mifinforma^ 
tion; for nothing can be more pofitive to the 
fads fworn to by the Affidavits, of thofe peo- 
ple, whofe information Mr. Macklin (peaks. 
Of the fiifts fworn to upon the 13 th of Novem- 
ber laft, Mn Macdonnel and his wife give this 
accounts ^ that one of the perfons who fcemcd 
to be at the head of thofe who oppofed Mack- 
lin*s performing the Charafter of Machetb, 
and ijpoke moft particularly, was one James, 



$6 THE LIFI QF 

as he called himfelf, whom they believed to be 
John Stephen James, of Bridge-Street, Weft- 
minfter, faid James fo publicly declaring i' 
thefe Mr. BuUer thought good to reprefent to 
your Lordfliip, as perfons fpeaking from in- 
formation and' belief, and to fuppofe Mr. 
Macklin fpoke from information and belief re- 
fpeding the perfon ; it is charged to be James 
by Macdonnel and his Wife, but their Affidavit 
hardly wants pofitivenefs, in the manner of 
making it, three people fwear pofitively, Mr. 
Macklin making the fourth. Mr. Macklin 
believes James to be the perfon from whom he 
received that treatment, and the rcafon for 
his believing it is, he has been fo informed by 
thofe who now prove it concurring with his own 
apprehenfions. 

" The Court will now fay what is fit to be 
done upon the truth of the Cafe, when the truth 
is underftood ; Mr. BuUer thought good, a$ 
did Mr. Bear*croft, who went before him, to 
fay Mr. Macklin, who gave certain provoca- 
tions, which, by. their argument, they would 
refer to him ; in confcquencc of which Mr^ 



' CHARLES MACI^LIN. 97 

^.amts was entide<l to aft b the manner he did, 
^d was not fo culpabk as the reft, he having 
! FCGcived very ill treatment from the hands of a 
I wopian, a«d fomc friends of Mr. Macklin. — 
I If your Lordihip looks at the Affidavit of the 
Gentleman, in his own exculpation, and of Mr. 
Lucasy your Lordfhip will fee upon what 
ground thefc people were warranted, in pre- 
fuming that this woman was M's. Macklin. 
The ground is this; by the dircftions of James ^ 
Lucas followed this woman to the houfe, upon 
the door of which was the name of Macklin \ 
Mr. Macklin lives in that houfe, part of which 
belong$^ to him, upon the door of which, 
leading (p his apartments, is his name ; the 
pther part of it is a fliop i in the houfe therp 
are various lodgers, and to what part of the 
houfe (he went, they have not thought proper 
to tell; fhc might go to a lodger there, or 
might be a lodger herfelf j or poflibly never 
heard or knew any thing at all of Mr. Mdcklin, 
otherwife than as being a lodger in the houfe ; 
and difpofed to think Mr. Macklin was ill- 
treated. But of this woman bt ing A^s. Mack^ 
Vou IL H 



gi 'tut LIFE OP* 

lifty there is no evidence, nor do they afFcft to 
fay Ihe is in any way fo, as to induce your 
Lordfliip to credit, that fuch is their belief. 
Your Lordlhip will give me leave ta fay, that 
this woman, fo faid to be Mrs. Macklitiy by 
Mr. James y was not Mrs. Macklhty and it was 
fo far from being poffiblc for Mr. James fo to 
believe her, that he charged a woman of the 
name of Macdonnel with being the woman who 
had fo treated him i he, Mr. JameSy therefore, 
fo far from being of that belief. Hands under 
the predicament of having found out his mif- 
take, if ever there was a time that he really 
thought fo ; for this fame Mrs. Macdonnel i is 
the fame perfon he fixed upon, as having given 
him that ufage, and is ^ot Mrs. Mackliny but 
Mrs. Macdonnel \ a perfon who has nothing to 
do with it, but the fa6t of being a witnefs in, 
this cafe; all the argument founded upon it will 
be removed, by Ihe wing there is fuch a mifre- 
prefentation. Then^ my Lord, it remains to 
Ihew, that the charge is neither difputed nor 
denied ; J take leave to fay fo-, notwithftanding 
the Gentlemen have faid it is both difputed and 
denied j thefc fafts, fuppbjing them to be true. 



CHARLes MACKLIN. 99 

Conftitute the ground of the charge againft this 
pcrfon* 

*^ Your Lordfhip will give mc leave to pre-* 
fume that, of which there is undoubted evi- 
dence, and which no pcrfon is prepared to 
controvert, viz. with refpeft to the enlarging of 
the Rule for Mr. Leigby Mr. Buller was not iH 
advifed — it was not a flip upon the occafioii, 
though the Gentleman fays fo — but he has it 
from the Attorney, giving him inftruftions to 
enlarge it, without which he would not have 
enlarged it -, therefore it was no miftake of in- 
.ftrudions, but the Gentleman adted agreeable 
to the point of his inftruftions j the Attorney, 
in my apprchenfion, perfeftly underftood what 
he was about when he gave thofe inftruftions ; 
I now underftand it, and if the Gentleman had 
not advifed he ftiould be defended, they would 
have given hinfi better inftruftions. Nobody 
will doubt the charge when there is a proof of 
a great number of people, fpeaking at a great 
number of times and places about it j and Mr. 
Leigh has been fcen togive orders, and to ap- 
ply that force, and colledt it, which will deafly 
Ha 



loo T«E iiri or 

be found to be the truth ,- atui when not denied 
it muft be taken for granted ; and if thaft time 
never comes of its being denied^ it appears in 
proof, beyond a doqbt> that there exifted in 
ibmebody a determined purpofe to drive thi& 
Man from the Stagt -, and though the Gentle* 
man chofe to fpeak of Mr. Macklin*s appre* 
-henfions beiqg growdlefs, Mr. Macklin^nt xhlH 
time, as well as^ the dme I ^m, now preffing hb 
intx^refl: for the confideration t>f the Court, if 
he was m a fituation to apprehend any thing, 
muft apprehend he would be difcharged ; and 
now diat he has been difcharged, if he is not 
apprehcnfivc of being difchaiged, it is cert^ 
-^e is not yet reftored, and not under the ap- 
prehenfion he fliall be reftored. With rcfpeft 
to their own fafety, for which no imputation 
&lls upon them, if the Managers of the The- 
atre attend to fuch behaviour as this, it will for 
ever prevent the reftitution and reftoration of 
this Man, to what the people have driven him 
from. That fome people are anfwerable for 
that, I beg leave to prefume, in this bufincfs ; 
how far thofe people arc acceffaiy to that de- 
sign, and inftrumental in carrying it into exew- 



CHARLES MACKLIN. lOI 

Qon> and for the purpofe of obviating the fuf- 
picion of coUufion and confpiracy, the circum- 
ftances arc Angular enough. When I date Mr. 
Macklin to be an Iriflunan, he will not be af- 
fronted with me ; what thofe others are I can- 
not learn ; I have not nmde any inquiry about 
it ; but I find a little Iriih blood has found its 
way into their veins, or thofe that advife or ap- 
pear for them to-day : when the Rule was en- 
larged, they appeared by two diftind: clafles of 
Counfcl, each reprefenting three, and to-day 
the Parties are fix, and have fix Counfel ; and 
then they forget there fliands my friend, the 
common Attorney to the whole fix. 

" Mr. Blake. It is not fo ; I am not Attor- 
ney for the fi»; I am Attorney for Mr. Leigb, 
and Mr. James's friend defired me to do bu- 
finefs for him, 

« Mr. Dunning. I don't blame Mr. Blake 
for fetting me right : on the contrary, I thank 
him : then it feems there are fix perfons ap- 
pearing by two Attorneys, and not one, 
H3 



I02 THE LIFE OF 

" Mr. AJhe. I jm Attorney for feme of 
the others. 



*' Mr. "Dunning. Then I beg leave to ftand 
again to reftify my miftakc ; we fhall grow ac^ 
curate, by degrees, no doubt: then there is 
one Attorney for three Parties, reprefented by 
three Counfel, and three Attorneys inftrufting 
another Counfel to be for the three other Parties. 
The correfted cafe then is this, three Attorr 
neys employ one Counfel, upon the behalf of 
three Parties, who choofe to be underftood 
2^ Parties entirely unconnedted with each other ; 
another Attorney employs three diftinft Coun- 
fel, reprefenting three Parties, becaufe they 
.choofe to (hew thofe three Parties totally un- 
connected with each other \ therefore, as far as 
refpeifts the point of conncftion, it is to be dif- 
covered by the Evedentia ret of the cafe, whicji 
your Lordlhip fees, with refpeft to Mr. Jamesy 
the prefent fubje6t in confideration, is, that he 
is underftood by his Counfel to have acquitted 
himfelf altogether ; and they have gone parti- 
cularly through the charge, in point of obfer- 
yation, in order to con^radift it. Give mc 



CHARLES MACKI.IN. lO^ 

l^avc to go through the parts of the anfwcr, 
In the firft place, your Lordftiips are told that 
this Gentleman went to the Theatre for tht 
peaceable purpofe of feeing the Play; perhaps 
if he had been fo very peaceable as my Learned 
Friendj he would have had no oc^afion to have 
taken his wife with him, to keep him in order | 
I wifli with all my heart his wif(; could have 
done fo the next time of hi^ going there ; but 
J cannot tell whether it was that this Gentle- 
man grew fo unruly that his wife chofe to keep 
out of his way (it would have been well for the 
reft of thefe Defendants if they had done fo 
too) or whether it was for other purpofes 5 
it fcems he returned to the Playhoufe j but 
with what view ? Not out of curiofity, that 
being fiilly fatisfied the firft night j for thcA 
Mr. Jame^ was clearly of opinion that Macklin 
was incompetent for performing the Charadter 
oi Macbeth ; the Gentleman might haye fup-. 
pofed himfelf invefted with authority to form a 
judgment upon the merits of Mr. Macklin^ aa 
^ Performer, and, in compa,ny with his wife,^ 
whofe criticifms concurring with his, Macklin* s 
performance of the Charter was confidercd, 

H4 



rb4 '^^^ ^^^^ ^* 

by thctti, as worth nobody's while to go and 

fee. 

'* It was odd, after he had pafrcd this judg- 
ment, that he ftiould choofe, whenever Mr. 
Macklin came on again, in that CharaSer, ta 
go and fee him. This cafe is too ftrong, and 
no pcrfon can give this iJentleman credit for 
laying, he came on purpofc afterwards to fee 
the Play j and when Mr. Macklin came upOa 
the Stage, in different Characters, in the Play, 
in Sbyloeky and, m the Entertjdhmeilt, in Vlr 
Archy Macjarcajm^ I take leave tofiippofe the 
Town agreed, that, in thcfc Chara^ers, Mr. 
Macklin always had capital inerit j if there is 
any merit in thofe Charafters themfelvcs, 
they are underftood, by all the world, to have 
been exhibited with all their advantages by 
Mr. Macklin j however, if it was Mr. y^mes*s 
ptirpofe to fliare in the pleafures, what drew 
him to fee Maektin in the Charafters of Sbyhck 
znd Sir Archy Macfarca/m ? — He was in fear, 
as he thinks fit to tell us, before Mr. Macklin 
began the Charaftcr, that they would not let 
him go oh, bccaufe th^y wanted fotnithliig 



CHAKLIS MA'CKLIN. i05 

elfe ; tbby wanted an apology, and fomc ex- 
planation, and God knows what ; and that*— 
which I Ihsffl prcfcntly go more minutely into 
the Inquiry of— that fotnething, • therefore, it 
was, and not feeing him in Sir Archy and Shy*- 
lack, which clearly drew Mr. James to fee him 
inthofe Chara&crs, any more than when he 
'*rcnt to fee him in Macbeth. Nobody cam 
ftippofe, nor will Mr. James wifh to be under- 
ftood, that feeing, applauding, or condemn- 
ihg the Charafter, were among the objefts 
that drew Mr. James's attention to the Play^ 
houfe. It feems, however, Mr. James , hav-^ 
ing fatisfied your Lordfhips thefe were not his 
pwpofes, has left us no doubt what they were ; 
for he has hfed the goodnefs to explain them. 
He fays, the firft time, viz. the fixth of No- 
vember, there was a talk about Reddijh. His 
Affidavit ftates, ' that it appeared to this De- 
*poneiit, that there was not fufficient proof of 
either the feid Samuel Reddijh or James Sparks 
hiffingi neither did this Deponent think a mere 
relation fufficient to contradidt the oaths of 
them, the faid Samuel Reddijh and James 
Sparks i and this Deponent did therefore dif- 



I06 THE LIFE or 

gpprovc of Macklin's behaviour, by the com-» 
mon mode of hiffing.' — What .other purpofe, 
if any, brought' him there tha,t night ? Your 
Lordlhip fees how foon he forgot — for it fcem§ 
he hiffcs the Aftor to prevent his going on; 
and why ? Becaufe there was . not fufficient 
proof to fatisfy this felf-created, felf-rcreftecj 
Judge, He tiakes upon himfclf to aft upon a 
charge he had nothing to do with ; he had no. 
conneftion with either of the Parties; but he, 
\n pure generofity, as Mr. Buller tells us^ wa? 
inclined to take upon him to j udge of thofe merits^, 
he fuppofed himfelf called upon to try, though 
his proceedings, in faft, had po relation at aU 
%o the merits of the performance. But Mr, 
James was fo inattentive to the pleafure of the 
Company there, as to think himfelf authorifc^ 
^o difturb what they might like. 

" Lord Mansfield. I am yery well fatisfied 
$s to Mr. James — you need not go any fur- 
ther. I think what Mr. Buller alluded to, w^s 
right; if the application went, therefore, in thp 
way he meant it, to be fure, this Qourt would 
not encourage complaints of the difapprpbatiot^ 



CHARLES MACKLIN. tOJ 

5r approbation of afting upon a public Theatre 
being (hewn in a manner in which every part of 
the Auditory has a right to flicw it ; but \fy 
from malice, ill-will, or refentment, a numbor 
of people are ungenerous enough to take ad- 
vantage of the fituation a poor Aftor is in, 
being at their mercy upon the Stage, to de- 
prive him of his bread, ^nd infult him, not 
upon any offence arifing out of the Play, but 
from malice and confpiracy againft the perfon 
who is the Aftor^ to ftrip him of the means 
of living, ths^t is a ftrong ground of aftion, 
which may be brought by him. I rather 
wilhcd he had — I hinted and recommended 
him to bring an aftion, Befides the injury 
done to him, it is moft indecent to the Public, 
and a fhame to the Police of the Kingdom. 
With regard to Mr. Jamesy he don't deny fome 
of the principal parts of the charge, and, upon 
his own Affidavit, he gives fufficient ground to 
' fhcw, with what view, after the fixth of No- 
vember, he went there, and with what prin- 
ciple, and for what purpofe. As to the Affi- 
davit of Macdonnel and his wife, he hardly 
gives an anfwer to any part of it. It is th? 



19% THB LIFB 6t 

clcarcft, fulkft, and moft exprcfs charge, and 
he hardly gives an anfwer to any part of that 
Affidavit. It is very remarkable in that Affi- 
davit, which he don't deny, Mrs. Macdonml 
fwcars, throughout, he took her for Mrs. 
^acklifti and challenged her with being Mrs^ 
Mackliuy and all along confidered her as Mrs. 
Macilin. He was fo outrageous, fo violent, 
and fo mad, that he challenged men and wo- 
men. Thefe are ftrong words of this Affidavit, 
which are not anfwered by him. But taking 
it upon his own Affidavit, which is the faireft 
wayi— He goes there upon the fixth of No- 
vember; whether he went for amufement, or 
other purpofes, he don't fay i but he goes on 
the fixth of November ; he fays, * before the 
beginning of the Play, Mr. Macklin came 
upon the Stage with a parcel of Papers in his 
hands, which he began to read, the purport 
of which was, topro ve Mr. Reddijby a Performer 
of Drury-I^^e, the firft night of his performing 
thePartofM?f^^//&,hadhifled; anduponhearing 
the fame read, it appeared to him, there was not 
fufficicnt proof of either faid -R^^^//& or Sfarks 
liiffingi ncitherdidhc this Deponent think amerc 



CRARLES MACKi^IN. IO9 

rclatianfufficifntto contradifi: the oaths of them> 
the faid Reddijh and S parks y which they hAd 
rcfpcftively made, whereby they denied it/ 
and he fays, *he therefore ihewed his difappro- 
bation ofMackHn's behaviour, by the <:ommon 
method of hifling,' and he fays ' he hiffed th^t 
evening/ There it refts for that night. But 
how coimes it, upon the thirteenth of Novena- 
•ber, that he ^ame there ? With what view, 
and in what company, does he come there ? — 
Manifeftly for vengeance j not to fee the Play. 
*Hc fays ' he went, it being the fourth time of 
Mr. MackHn's performing the Charafter/ He 
fays, * that as Macklin had not produced any 
pofitive proof oi Reddijh and Sparks hifling, as 
he had pledged himfelf to the Public to do, he, 
this Deponent, as well as others, called forfudi 
proof or conceflion ; and, upon that, a fquabble 
happened with a woman, {Macdomers wife) 
whom he Iwore to be moft outrageous.* As to 
proofs and conceflTions, Macklin had nothing to 
do with it J Macklin was wrong in faying any 
thing about it ; and fluich more fo, after they 
had made their Affidavits, to take notice of it. 



tlCi THE LIFE OP 

*' But he goes on purpofe, not to fee the Pliyt 
but to call for proofs and conceifions. Who 
was to take them ? was die Court ? or the 
Pit ? or the Upper Gallery ? They had not 
defined what the conceflions were to be, or to 
Whom to be made. Then James is outrageous, 
land makes all this work for want of proofs arid 
conceflions, that he had no bufmefs to go to 
the Playhoufe to alk for. Then he has made 
a flip in one thing, which I am fure he was not 
aware off — it is infifted there was no confpi- 
racy: — to be fure rio confpiracy: — the other 
perfons joined in the Rule have no acquaintance 
with him : — but when he comes to give an ac- 
count, he fays, ' if his friends, that went with 
him, had not done fo and fo^ they ihould not 
have been able to have got the better / there- 
fore it appears that he went, with a body of 
his friends,, to demand proofs and conceflions, 
by vociferations and noife in the Houfe. After 
this he wants to fpeak with Macklim I fup- 
pofe Macklin took care not to meet him j — he 
was afraid to fpeak to him, as he was fo 
boifterous \ but to Mr. Colman he defires to be 
excufcd giving him any fatisfaftion about this 



CHAkLES NiACkLlN. Ill 

Wom^ at all. In confequencc of this Mr. 
James fends a challenge, and publiflies it in the 
Ncwfpapers. He writes to him in this manner t 

^' Sir, I call upon you thus publitly to declare 
^' your reafons for refiifing to meet me at Mu 
^* Colman^Sy or elfewhere, as likewife who the 
*' Gentlewoman is, who firft ftruck, and then 
" fet a Ruffian to aflault me, on Saturday evening 
** laft, in the Gallery of Covent-Garden The- 
" atre, fhe being afterwards watched into your 
" houfe, in James-Street, Covent-Garden. — 
'^ This I mull infift upon, as I intend then to 
*^ leave you to the flings of your own malevo- 
*^ lent heart, and the refentment of the much 
^' injured Public.-' 

" Then, for fear the Court Ihould not be able , 
to perceive it was a Challenge, James takea 
care of this,- for he declares in his Affidavit that 
Mr. Macklin did not dare to anfwer him, either 
In a public or private manner. 

" However, this is not a confpiracy. He 
fays he iij not acquainted with the particukr 



Ill THE tlFl^Of 

pcrfons that might be there. There might be 
(cores or hundreds concerned in it. Mr^ 
Macklin fingled out, as well as he could, thofe 
he was able to give evidence of. James fays 
he did not enter into a confpiracy to drive 
Macklin for ever from the Stage : but ftill he 
flioulcl give proofs or conceffions before he 
aftcd again. 

" Now, as to a confpiracy, it is notneccflary 
to prove a parole, or written agreement, in 
order to make a confpiracy j if pcrfons concur 
in afts tjo do the fame thing, that is evidence 
to be left to a Jury, whether it is or is not a 
confpiracy. You all remember the cafe of 
the Gboft. Several perfons were there con- 
vifted of a confpiracy. I believed what they 
themfelves fajd, when they moved the Court 
for a new Trial, that they had not a parole 
communication, much lefs a written agreement; 
but they- all concurred in the fame impofition 
upon the Public, by fitting up the Gbqfi'. I 
faid, upon the Trial, if the Jury thought they all 
concurred towards the fame end, and, upon any 
bad or improper principles, took part in fct- 



CHARLES MACKLIN« 1 1 J 

ting up the Gbojly that it was not Acccffary 
to prove cither a parole or written agreement 
to do it i and upon the motion for a new Trial, 
the Court was of that opinion* But what is this 
cafe ? James denies he entered into a confpi- 
racy to drive Macklin from the Stage. But 
what did he want ? All he wanted was an anfwer 
to his queftion, and an apology for Macklin' s 
conduct towards Samuel Reddijh and James 
Sparks. What had he to do with Samuel Red- 
dijh or James Sparks ? Who made him the 
.Champion of Reddijh and Sparks ? Yet he is 
defirous it ihould appear that he was not ac«- 
quaintcd with them, or they with him ; but 
ftill he goes to get this apology, or anfwer, and 
will not fufFcr the Play to go on, but infults 
the Audience. Afting in this manner was very 
malevolent to Mr. Macklin. With rcfpeft to 
James i therefore, let the Rule be made ab- 
folutc* — Go on with the next. 

" Mr. Norton. I am for Mr. Milesj and Ihall 
trouble your Lordfhip with fuch anfwcrs to the 
charge againft him as occur to me* 

Yql. U. 1 



114 TH£ LIFE OF 

*• I apprehend there is very little proof againlt 
Mr. Miles. He is charged with being prcfcnt 
in Covent-Garden Houfe upon the eighteenth 
of November -, that he hiffed, was noify, and 
outrageous, with a great number of other per- 
fons, in the Pit, He is likewife charged with 
having wrote fomething upon paper, and throw- 
ing it out of the Pit upon the Stage. 

" What the contents of the Paper were, is not 
ftated J fo I prcfumc your Lordfhip will not 
confidcr it to be fo ftated. Then, that he had a 
conference with Mr. Woodward^ and after that 
Woodward retired. I think that is the whole * 
of the charge made upon Mr. Miles. He is not 
charged with being prefent on the evening Afr. 
Macklin afted Macbeth. I underftand there 
was a ftrange difturbance upon the eighteenth of 
Novembers but he is not charged with any 
confpiracy, except what could be inferred from 
exprefling his difapprobation at the time of 
afting, by hiffing. No fufpicioh can properly 
fall upon Miles : on his part I have ah Affidavit 
by which he declares he went to the Houfe upon 
the eighteenth of November, for the purpofc 



of feeing Mr. Macklin a«ft the Part of Sbylock, 
sand the Part of Sir Archy Mac/arcafmy in an 
Entertainment j in which Parts I underftand he 
has always acquitted himfelf with great applaufc. 
He fays ' the Audience was very noiiy, at the 
time of the drawing up of the Curtain, and he, 
not approving altogether of Mr. Macklin's 
conduft, 'joined, in fomc degree, with thenoifc 
of the Houfe/ So far he admits s but fays * he 
did it merely bccaufe he thought Mr. Macklin 
ought, after what he faid, to make fome little 
conceffion to the Public. — That he did not do 
it with any view or intention of driving him 
from his profeffion. — In fhort, that he was in 
no combination, and had no malice againft 
Macklin.' Thus it ftands upon Mr. Miles' s 
Affidavit* 

«' I apprehend, therefore, with deference to 
your Lordfhips, from the whole of the cafe, ic 
appears there was no malice, or intention oH 
malice ; that Miles went there as a Spettator ^ 
that what he did was no more than exprefling 
his difapprobation ofMacklin, as every perfon 
in a Playhoufc generally docs, if they diflike % 

la 



Il6 THE LIFE OF 

performance j that he confidercd himfclf as hav- 
ing a right to do it, and if any confequence arofc 
from it, by that behaviour, Mr. Macklin may 
have his remedy by Adion. But I truft, in 
fuch a cafe as this, your Lordfhip will never kt 
an Information go againft him. 

*' Lord Man^eld. Is the Letter fct out in 

the Affidavit ? 

. " Mr. Norton. No, my Lord, we fay no- 
thing at all about it. 

" Mr. Miks's Affidavit read. 

" The Affidavit of miliam Jugufius MiUs, 
" Gentleman, fworn the joth of May, 1774. 

" Saith, That he went into the Pit of the 
^f Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden, on the cigh- 
" teenth of November laft, to fee the Play of 
" The Merchant of Venice, and the Farce of 
*' Love-a-la-Modey advertifed for that night y 
" and that, on drawing up the Curtain, the 
" Audience became very clamorous for the ap- 



[ 



CHARLES MACRLIN. II7 

" pcarancc of the Afting Manager, and inccf- 
*' fantly called out for Mr. Colman to come on 
" the Stage. Saith, that Mackliny habited ift 
" the Charafter of Sbylock^ came on the Stage, 
^^ in oppofition to the general fcnfc of the Au- 
*' dience ; and, on being defired to go off, he 
" peremptorily refufed, and, in th^ moft info- 
" lent manner, advanced to the Orcheftra, and 
** ftamped with his feet, and cof^tinued on the 
'* Stage. 

" Saith, Deponeijt then undcrftood the re- 
^* fentment of the Audience againft faid Mack^ 
'^ lin was occafioned by his bringing charges 
«< againft fome perfons, with whom Deponent 
" is, and ever was, unacquainted, and which 
*' Deponent underftood and thought appeared 
^^ to be falfe and groundlefs j and for engaging 
** fome perfons to interrupt the fcnfc of the in- 
** dependent part of the Audience, on the night 
«' of the thirteenth of November, 

*«. Saith, That he was then informed that fe- 
" vcral perfons were, by hired people, moft 
^^ cruelly beat, and otherwifc iU treated, for 

13 



llS THE LIFE or 

" giving their opinion on the merits of faid 
" Macklitij in the Charafter of Macbeth ; and 
" finding, by much the major part, if not the 
" whole, of the Audience, on the night of 
" the eighteenth of November laft, incenfed 
** at the outrage offered by faid Macklm 
" to the Public, and, infilling on fomc con- 
" ceffion being made. Deponent did, as an in- 
^* dividual, give his fcntiments to the fame pur- 
" port, and without being connefted, or in the 
*^ Icaft acquainted, either diredly or indircftly, 
'* with any of the abufed Parties ; but merely 
" from a conviftion that fomc apology was due 
" from Macklin to the Audience, for the in- 
" fult they had received, and the groundlefs 
*' charge he had made on particular perfons. 

" Saith, That he did not, by any words or 
" figns, give any fignals to the Audience what- 
*' foever, nor did he threaten or menace any of 
*' the Aftors j and on his Oath faith, he was a 
*'perfe6l ftr^ger to Leigby Sparks^ Jamesy 
*' Aldusy and Clarkiy on the eighteenth of No- 
** vember laft i and that he neither hired nor 
'^ engaged, nor was concerned in hiring or en-* 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 119 

** gag^Ogj dirc<9;Iy or indircftly, any pcrfon or 
** pcrfons to hifs the faid Macklin ; nor was De- 
" ponent concerned or engj^ed in any combina- 
•*rion, confpiracy, or a^reenicnt, with any 
'* perfons whomfocvcr, to hifs, or otherwife 
^^ moleft or interrupt the faid Macklin in his 
" Performance on the Stage." 

*^ Lord Mansfield. Miles does not deny the 
chsurge j he does not deny his being acccflary to 
driving Macklin from his bread, 

" Mr. Murphy. It was .by Miles' s written 
order that Macklin was difcharged. 

^' Lord Mansfield. Upon the eighteenth of 
November, Miles was at the Houfe i he t6ok 
part in the quarrel j they all went on purpofc j 
therefore let the Rule be abfolute, as to him« 

/* Mr. Mansfield. I am for Mr. Clarke ^ fo 
far as refpedls him, from the ftate of Macklin* s 
Affidavit, the charge is, * that, upon the eigh- 
teenth of November (the Affidavit not pre- 
tending Clarke to be at Covent-Garden The- 

14. ■ 



120 THI LIFE OF 

atre upon any former occafion) he fat in » 
Box, one ftory high, over the Stage 5 that when 
he made his appearance, he was f^iuted with 
the waving of fticks, and a noifc/ Then it is 
charged, * that Clark€ made a flgnal to the au- 
dience \ next * that there was a hiding and cry- 
ing Off, off. That he gave fevcral fignals^ 
which, from their conftantly producing the 
lame cfFed, Deponent Macklin apprehends 
were preconcerted fignals, which Clarke fome* 
times made with his hat, and fometimes with a 
piece of wood he had in his hand, covered 
with red cloth; with which he menaced M^f/t- 
lifty and called upon him to kneel down and 
afk pardon.' Now in that Mr. Macklin \s un- * 
confirmed, and it is denied by Clarke. 

" Next it is charged, « that he cried Off, offy 
and that he beat the Scenes moft furioufiy with 
the board; that he threw a Note upon the 
Stage, and ordered the Actors to go off; that 
he roared out ColmaHy Colmany and defired 
him to come upon the Stage ; that Clarke ap- 
peared to be one of thofe perfons to whom this 
jriot and behaviour was imputable, ' This is the 



CHARLES MACKLIN. I2< 

whok of tht chai^ againft Mr. Clarkt.^^ 
Moiklin lumps him with the fcvcral other Per- 
fonsj Leighj Miksy and the others j and fajr^^ 
^ he underftands it was a coml^^tion, by aU 
thefe perlbns, for difcbarging him from the 
Stage, whence he was afterwards difcharged :' 
Mr. Clarice is a Gentleman of Surrjr, lives at 
Moul/iyj and is a man of fortune: he gives this 
anfwer j * that he never was at the Theatre 
either of the four times when Mr. MackRn 
aded Macbeth.* It might be owing to his mis- 
fortune, his not feeing the Chara&er of Mac-- 
beth fhine in Mr. MackUn^ as no doubt it did, 
if he had had the pleafure of feeing him adk in 
that Chara&er, I dare lay it would have fo re- 
commended Mr. Macklin to him, that he would 
not have been induced to do as he did. He 
went to fee Mr. Macklin in the two Charaders 
iyfSbyhck and Sir Archy Macfarcafmi he de- 
nies he is at all confcious of making any faluta- 
tions to- the Audience, or that the Audience 
made any return to them j he tells your Lord- 
fhips, it is true, ' that he took up a piece of board 
with a red cloth, which was in the box, and 
diat he made as much noife as any body in tbe 



laa THE LIFE or 

Houfe i that he ftruck it againft tiie Scenes^ and 
flgainft the fide of the wainfcot of the Box ; 
that foon after the Curtain was drawn up, there 
was a prodigious cry of Off ^ off\ that foon 
after Mr. Macklin came upon the Stage in the 
drefs of Shy lock ; that there was then fome talk 
or difputc between Macklin and fome Gentle- 
men in the Pit; that Macklin retired, and 
came in his own proper drefs ; that there was 
then a great cry of Offy off; that Macklin 
was called out to, by a great number of the Au- 
dience, to make good the charge againft Red^ 
dijh and Sparksy for fome offence againft the 
people i' and Clarke tells your Lordfliip, * that 
finding a majority of the Audience in this, he 
did concur in faying Offy offy and hiffing, and 
ftriking the board againft the Scenes and Box ; 
finding a majority of the audience calling to 
Macklin to fubmit arid beg pardon, he joined 
with the reft. That he then fent a Note to Mr. 
Colmany as Mr. Macklin ftates ; he threw the 
Note upon the Stage, which was a Note to 
Colmany to beg he would come upon the 
Stage to make peace j to 4efire Macklin to 
quiet the Audicncc,^ which he was told he might 



CHARtES MACKLIN. 123 

•if he would beg their pardon i he fays, ' Mr. 
Calfnan did not come upon the Stage;' and 
then Mr. Clarke teUs your Lordihips he went 
away and left the Houfe. One of the Affidavits 
ftatesj that he was upon the Stage afterwards, 
and Mr. Colman came there ; but he denies 
that, and fays he went to Drury-Lane direftly, 

*' As to the preconccrtmgof fignals, he does, 
in exprefs terms, fwcar, he never preconcerted 
fignals with any perfon whomfoevcr. That 
thofe Gentlemen, who were taking an a6tivc 
part and lead in the bufinefs, flood in the Pit— »- 
one was rcprefcnted as holding up a Paper, 
Mr. Sparks J I believe, and one was threatening 
with a ftick i they were taking different parts — 
he fays * that he had no more to do with it, than 
there being a noife of crying Off^ he did the fame, 
and flruck the place with the board — that he not 
only had no kind of preconcert with them at all, 
but was a total flranger to them, and never fpoke 
to any one of them in his life, nor to Mr. 
Mackliriy upon any other fubjedt; the laft thing 
he did,, before his going to Drury-Lane The- 
atre, was, he met Milesy as he was going out. 



124 THE LIFE OF 

who (aidfomcthing tohini> but he docs not know 
what he faid' — he denies having hadany connec* 
tion with any perfon whomfoever— he admits 
he certainly bore a part> he bifled> and knocked 
the board he had in his hand, which he had 
taken out of the Balcony, againft the Box, in 
^hich he was : — he fays, < that he had no male- 
volent defign againft Macklin ; that he wifhed 
Macklin would come and beg pardon, with 
which the people would be perfeftly fatisfied :* 
'^— if the bufincfs of this Court is to confider, 
whether a man hath a6tcd with perfcdt de- 
cency upon thefe occafions, I could not acquit 
Mr, Clarke, moft certainly; but Mr, Clarke 
never conceived any degree of malice againft 
Afr. Macklin at any time ; he had no alterca- 
tion with Macklin ; he had no other conncftion 
©r concern in the affray, than what he has 
fttbmitted in his Affidavit, which, when your 
Lordftiips have heard read, you will iihd no 
ground to involve Mr.^ Clarke in this Infbrnia- 
tion : if there is any, it muft be upon the 
ground of confpiracy, on the part of Mr^ 
Clarke to do Macklin an injury .^ 



I 



CHARLES MACKLI!f. 125 

" Mr. Clarke's Affidavit read. 

« The Affidavit of Jojepb Clarke^ Efquire. 
" Sworn the 28 th of May, 1774- 

*^ Saith, on November 18th, 1773, he went 
'^ to the Theatre Royal Covent-Gardcn, to fee 
*^ the Play of the Merchant of Venice j and the 
*' Entertainment of Love^a^la^Mode^ and got 
*' to faid Theatre before the Curtain was drawn 
*^ up, and fat in the Box, one ftory high, over 
" the Stage. 

** Denies, that to his knowledge or belief, 
^^ that, on making his appearance in faid 
" Box, he was faluted with three cheers, with 
" waving of hats, brandiftiing of fticks, or that 
" he received any falutation whatfover, with 
" acknowledgment and fatisfadtion, or returned 
^^ any falutation made to him. 

" Denies that, as the Curtain was drawing 
" up, he made any lignal, with his hat, to the 
'^Audience, or any thing clfe, to make an 
" outrage of hiding or hooting, or to cry ' Off, 
•' off. off: 



• 1 



126 THE LIFI or 

*' Saith, that as foon as the Curtain drew tip, 
" and two of the Performers of the Pky came on 
" the Stage> a great many of the Audience in 
" the Pit cried ' Of, off, off,' and the Players 
*^ withdrew from ofFthe Stage, and thereupon 
" Mr. Charles Macklin, in the drefs oi Shy lock, 
** came on the Stage, when fome altercation 
** or difpute arofe between the faid Macklin 
** and fome Perfons in the Pit, when faid 
*^ Macklin went off the Stage, and took off* 
" the drefs of Shylock, and came on the Stage 
"again, in his common drefs, when he was 
*' called upon, by the majority of the Audience, 
" as Deponent believes, to make good his 
'* charge zgzindReddijfh and Sparks, and to clear 
" up fome other matters which he was accufed 
•* of; but Macklin, as Deponent verily be- 
^* licves, defired farther time to make good his 
" charge againft Reddijh and Sparks, and to 
*^ clear up fuch other matters, of which he 
"was accufed; that thereupon M^r/&//« was 
•* called upon, by the Majority of the Au- 
" dience, as Deponent believes, to make his 
*^ fubmiflion to the whole Audience, by aflcing 
" pardon; which faid Macklin refufed to do. 



_^ 



CHARiES MACKtJN. IHJ 

^^ and faid Macklin not making good his charge 
" againft Reddijb and Sparks^ and not clearing 
*' up ihc matters with which he was accufed, 
^' and not making a fubmiffion to the Audience^ 
« as was required. Deponent did, as did the 
" majority of the Audience, as Deponent be- 
" licvcs, hifs, and cry ' Off, off, off: 

^^ Admits he had a board, or falfe rail in his 
" hand, covered with red, which was loofe on 
'' the top of the Box, where he leant over, 
*' which Deponent believes takes off, and puts 
'' on, occafionally ; and admits he made a noiie 
'^ with faid board, by ftriking it agsunft the 
" Box and Scenes j but denies, to his know- 
" ledge or belief, that he menaced or threatened 
^' faid Macklin with the fame. 

" Saith, That faid Macklin continued obfti- 
'^ nate in not making a fubmiffion, and the 
*' Audience beginning to be more violent than 
" ever. Deponent wrote a Note to Mr. Colman, 
" the Manager of faid Houfc, to defire he 
** would come on the Stage, which Deponent 
'^ thought would be the only way to' put an 



1^^ tm LIFE Of 

'^endto the difturbance; but faid Colmantc^ 
"fufed to Gome, and Deponent thereupon 
" went to faid Colman in the Green Room, 
" and defired he would appear on the Stage, 
" and inform the Audience, that whilft laid 
" Macklin lay under their difpleafure, that he 
" fhould not appear again on the Stage, until 
** he had made a proper fubmiflion to the 
" Public, or ufed words to that efFeft; and the 
*^ reafon of Deponent's fo doing, was, becaufe 
** he apprehended it was raoft likely to put an 
<* end to the difturbance* 

" Saith, faid Colman ftill refufing to come 
" on the Stage, Deponent immediately left 
" faid Theatre, and went to the Theatre Royal 
*' in Drury-Lane* 

" Saith, he hath been informed^ and believes, 
" that faid Colman did afterwards, that evening, 
♦^ come pn faid Stage> and addrefs himfelf to 
" the Audience; and faith, he never precon- 
" certcd any fignals with William Augujlus 
" Miles^ John Stephen JameSy Ralph Aldus, 
" nomas Leigh and James Sparks, or any 



CHARLSS KfAClCLIN. 129 

♦^t)fthcm, to be given by hinii faid Jojeph 
'* Clarke y on faid i8th of November, at th« 
'* Theatre Tloyal Covent-Garden. But, on the 
y contrary. Deponent faith, > he was, before 
" 18th of faid November, and whilft the dif- 
" turbance was making in faid Houfe, that 
" evening, a total ftranger to faid Miles^ James^ 
" Aldus^ Leigh,, and. Sparks,, and never had 
" any conveffation with them, or any or either* 
"of them, touching faid Macklin, or any 
" thing elfe, except that Deponent met faid 
" Miles by accident that night, as he was go- 
" ing behind the Scenes to the Green Room> 
^' to Mr. Colman as aforefaid, who fpoke to 
" Deponents but what he faid Deponent can't 
« recoiled, 

" Saith> He never preconcerted any fignals, 
** to be given by him, faid 1 5th of November, 
" at the Theatre Royal Covent-Garden, with 
" any perfon or perfons whatfoever, and de- 
" nies, to his knowledge or belief, he menaced 
" faid Macklin, with faid board covered widx 
^^red a$ aforefaid, and denies he made axxf 

Vol- II. K 



I JD THE LIf S Ot 

^' fignals with it to make a cKfturbancCj b iatd 
"Theatre, faid 1 8 th of November; butad*- 
" mtts he had faid board in his hand, and ftruck 
" it againft the Box and Scenes, and made ik 
*^ noife with it. 

^* Denies he called upon faid M&cklin to kneet 
*^ down and alk pardonj but admits he cried 
" Offj Qffy off^ which feemed to Deponent to 
" be the general fenfe of the Audience theft 
" prefent; and denies he did, in conjun&ion 
"with Miles y James y Aldus y Leigh and Sparks, 
" or any of them, or with any odier perfon, 
"compel the Managers of faid Theatre to dif- 
** charge faid MackHn from his employ, De- 
" ponent having no fuch wifh, defire, or inten-* 
" tion; but> verily believes, that if faid Mack^ 
" lin had made a proper fubmiffion to the Au* 
" dience, the fame would have been accepted 
" by the, majority thereof, which would have 
" put wi end to die difturbaace. 

" Denies that he ever entered into any com- 
" bination, confpiracy, or agreqnent with laid 
" Miksy James f Aldusy Leigh and S^rksy or 



cHjCikhis MackLin. tjt 

^ any of them, ot any other perfon againft Cxid 
^^ Macklin, in order to difcharge him from 
^* die Theatre, on faid i8th of November^ or 
** any other time, 

^' Salth, He had not any ill-will againft faid 
^^MackliHy but was defirous, as he believes 
** was the majority of the Audience then pre* 
^' fent, thdt faid Macklin Ihould have made a 
*^ proper fubmiffion to the Public, as well on 
** account of faid Samuel Reddijh and James 
*' Sparks, as on account of other matters, which 
" he was accufed with. 

" Saith, He was not at the faid Theatre the 
*^ 23d or 30th of Oftober laft, nor the 6th or 
^^ 13th of faid November, when faid Miuklm 
*^ appeared hi the CharaApr of Macbitbi and 
"denies he was in faid Phyhoufe on the 18th 
<* of faid November, when Mr. Cdman cama 
" on the Stage, Deponent having before that 
" time left the faid Houfe/' 

^^ Lord Mansfield. There is enou^ in 
Qafki's AdmiiTion to be fure> he joim with 
Ka 



X 



13^^ THE LIF£ OF 

them moft outragcoufly; bccaufc Mackiin 
did not make out the charge againft Reddijh 
and Sparksy therefore the Rule muft be ab-^ 
folute^ as to him. 

" Mr. Dunning. It would be a pity if the 
Standard- bearer did not make one with the 
troop, when he held the trophy; he lifted 
up the flag^ which was the flag of death* 

" Mr. Wallace. After hearing the Rules, 
your Lordlhip hath laid down (though I con- 
ceive, upon Mr. MacklMs appealing to the 
Public, he had fubmitted to their fcntence) 
I fhall not trouble the Court, on the Part of 
Mr. Aldus } he went there upon this difpute 
about Reddijh and Sparks ^ no doubt,, as well as 
many more s and after Macklin^s appeal to the 
Public, they thought to make him appear in 
that more ridiculous, than in any Charader he 
attempted to play. 

" Lord Mansfield. They certainly did fo — 
if they had only whipt him a little, and morti- 
fied him, it would not have been fo much; 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 133 

but when It is carried fo far as to advife the 
Managers to difcharge him, and take his bread 
from him, it is then carried too far -, and I 
would advife them, now the Rules are gone, 
inftead of the vaft. cxpence it will be in going 
on, to make a reafonable fatisfaftion and com- 
pofition, and to let part of the money that 
would go ariiongft you. Gentlemen, be applied 
towards that fatisfadion, . 

^* Mr. Serjeant Davy. I am for Sparks, 

*' Mr. Davenport. Sparks is the man who * 
went to the Antelope Alehoufe with Leigh to 
get a party together, 

*^ luord Mansfield to Mr. Serjeant Davy. 
Are you for Sparks and Leigh ? 

^^ Mr. Serjeant Davy. I am for Sparks, 

" Lg;rd Mansfield. With regard to Sparks^ 
fuppofing him (I have not the particulars in my 
mind, but fuppofuig him) to be charged as the 

K3 



r34 "THI LIFE Of 

greatcft aggrcfibr, I think there fhould be n© 
Rule againft him; MackHn was extremely 
wrong to call in queftion^ in that public way, 
the veracity of Sparks \ therefore 1 think the 
Rule ihoiild not go as to him. 

^ Mr. Dunning. -Your Lerdfhip wiH give 
me leave to mention what the Charge is. It 
goes precifcly to this point : SfarkSy in con^ 
currence with Leigby hires people to drive 
Macklm away, 

*^ Lord Mansfield. Suppofing it ever fo 
ftrong, Mr. Macklm was in the wrong, with 
regard to Reddijh and Sparks, in appealing ta 
the Public j aiid a man who is in the wrong 
fhould not come for the interpofition of this 
Court, againft another perfon who is in die 
wrong, 

. ^ Mr, Murphy^ I will tell your Lordlbip how 
that matter ftands, and then your Lordf^ip will 
judge how far Mr. Macklin was wrong in re-^ 
gard to Sparks. ^ The fiuft is, that Mr. Mack^ 
lin was attacked the firft nightji and upon his 



CHAlbLBS MACKLIN, IJJ 

(itSk appearance ia Macbith. He had xM. been 
uicd to that fort of behaviour during forty 
years^ and was very much aftoniflied what could 
occafion tt. Three perfons informed him (one 
of whom hath now made an Affidavit) that 
Sparks and Reddtjk were the people who occa* 
fioned the tumul? m the Gallery the firft night. 
Thenj^ upon the fubfequent Saturday, (it wa3 
upon a Saturday he firft applied) Mr. Macklin^ 
finding all the NewlpaperSj^ day after day, 
morning and evening, pouring out the moft vi- 
rulent abufe upon him, calling Jiini murderer, 
villain, and the moft opprobrious names of every 
fort ^ and Paragraph?, defiring the public to 
drive Rim fit)m the Stage, if he ever appeared 
again i he went upon the Stage with a large 
bundle of Papers, the Papers of a week, (as I 
am informed-— J was not there, but I think it is 
fo in the Affidavits) he faid he had been long 
in their fervice, and^ there was his reward, 
pointing to the bundle of Papers.of the whole 
week, which he held m his hands, full of every 
fcurrility that could be infcrted in Newfpapers, 
poured out upon him, and Paragraphs defiring 
^e Public to drive him from the Stage, and 
K4 



13^ TH2 LIFE or * 

fubmittcd to their judgment, -whether they 
would permit him to play the Characters that 
night — that he had been informed Sparks and 
Reddijh were the perfons who began the riot, 
Mr. Macklin agreed with me, that Ncwfpaper 
Paragraphs were odious, and it appeared to me 
not to be' a defirable way for Afr, Macklin to 
refute even Reddijh upon his Oath. He readily 
concurred with me j and, as he could not get 
people to prove it upon Oath, he was to pro-, 
cure the Papers^ and re^ the proof on Sa- 
turday, 

•^ Lord Mansfield. How (hxed Mr. Macklin 
attempt to prove a perjury upon Reddijh j he 
charged Sparks ^d Reddijh in the Newfpapers 
with having hifTed him, 

*^ Mr, Dunning. I fancy your Lordfhip 
miftakes the fa6b, atprefent, in favour of Mr, 
Sparks i for the point about which thefe parties 
dilputcd, was the unfatisfaftorincfs of the 
proof infilled upon -, and the fadt to be decided 
by this Angular Tribunal was, whether Mr, 
Jieddijh had hiffcd ? Sparks adopts the ehargc^ 



CHARLSS MACKLIN. 137 

as for as refpefted him ; ^ but/ fays he, ^ though 
I did hifs, which I have a right to do, yet Red^ 
dijh^ being an After, .it is matter of imputation- 
upon him 3 and I, as his Champion, will make 
good the charge/ The point to be tried was, 
whether they were truly or falfely charged ?. 

'* Lord Mansfield. That don*t vary it 5 he 
charges Sparks with hiffing, and brings the 
proof upon the Stage, charging both him and 
Reddijby and appeals in that way; that was 
wrong, he fhould have applied to the Laws of 
his Country ; and if he would not, he fliall not 
come here for an extraordinary interpofition,— 
I go upon the ground of Sparks being more 
guilty than . any agaioft whom the Rules are 
gone, that may be taken to the Grand Jury / 
but with regard to' Leigh y the Rule muft be 
piade abfolute, as it was enlarged forhim, and 
the Rule muft b^ difcharged as to Sparks, 



138 TKE UF« Of 



ON the Hth of February, 1775, *^ c*"* 
came on to be tried before Mr. Juftice 
Afton and a Special Jury, when the foUowing 
Speech was made by * 

Mr. Dunning. — " Mayitpfcafe your Lord- 
fliip, and you Gentlemen of the Jury — ^Tliis is a 
Profecution which comes before you againft five 
Gentlemen, of the names o( Leigh, Miles, Al-- 
dus, James, and Clarke, on a charge of haying 
committed, what I truft you will confidcr as a^ 
very improper, a very unbecoming outrage 
upon the perfon of the Profccutor, Mr. Mackr 
fin i aggravated, and made ftill more improper,^ 
and more unbecoming, from the motives which 
induced them to' commit it, and from the pro-r 
feffed and declared purpofe of committing it* 
The fccne of this tranfaftion wa§ the Public 
Theatre of Covent-Garden. I need not teH 
you who Mr. Macklin is, his profeflion and 
fanip are known to all that hear me, Througlj 



CHARLES ATACKtlN^ I39 

the courfc of a long life, he has been conftantly 
employed in the way of that Profeffion ; in that 
PxofeflSon he has earned a comfortable fob- 
fiftence, to the fatisfaftion of that Public who 
were his patronizers, or his employers, and witK 
the general applaufe of all his Auditors^ 

*^ Mr. Macklin, for fbme time precedii^ 
the diftufbance which occafions the prcfent 
Profecution^ Iwl been employed in the way of 
his Profeflk)n in Ireland. He W2^ drawn from 
thence hiither by the profpcft of a more bene- 
ficial employment. Here he had too long had 
an experience of the indulgence and appro- 
bation of the Public, to dcfpair of returning to 
the fenrice of that Public with their ufual. ap- 
probation. He came here upon the profpeft 
of an engagement with the Covent-Garden 
Managers i he was eiigaged upon the terms of 
a falary of four hundred pounds a year, aBe-r 
nefit annually, and a ftipulated compenfation 
for new Farces, ¥^ich he was annually to pro^ 
duce ; and, in this fituation, and upon thefe 
terms, it was, that he made hia re-appcarance 
upon this Stage, 



I40' THE LIFE OF 

" The Managers knew too well the taftc of 
the Public, and they had too much tafte of 
their own, not to know, that Mr. Macklin, 
in particular walks of his profeffion, was with- 
out a Competitor ; that praife I truft nobody 
will dilputc with him. Mr. Macklin, though 
at an advanced period of life, had ftill fpirit 
enough, and ftill fenfe enough, to feel himfelf 
equal to other walks in that Profeffion, which 
he had hitherto not attempted. He was in- 
duced to think that, after he had been fome time 
upon this Stzgc, he might appear to advantage, 
to .his own credit, and to the emolument of his 
employers, the Mang-gcrs. of that Playhoufe, in 
the Charafter of Macbeth: — how far his ideas 
upon that fubjeft were well founded, we arc 
not permitted to learn j from expericrxce, how-, 
ever, he refolved to attempt it, and if a fund 
of great good fenfe, and of great and long ex- 
perience, and if a perfeft knowledge of the 
nature of the Charader, and the proper way of 
exhibiting it to advantage, could warrant hisi 
cxpeftation, that he jQiould be able to appear 
in it with fuccefs j I truft that expeftation wiU 
not be thought by you a roinajitic^ or ai^ idle 



CHARLES MACKLIN. I4I 

One. Whether he would have fuccceded in' it 
or not, however, was to be tried. The Pub- 
lic were to be his Judges. To thofe Judges he 
appealed. By thofe Judges he was content to 
be tried. He exhibited himfelf to the Public, 
forthefirft time, on the twenty-third of 
October j he had recently before this afted 
in the two favourite Gharafters of Sbylocky in 
the Merchant of Venice, and Sir Archy 
Macfarcajmy in Ix)ve-a-la-Mode. Flufh 
from the applaufe which he had earned, and 
which he always earns in thofe Characters, he 
fet about attem^pting this of Macbeth^ on the 
23d of Odober. Probably, Gentlemen, Ltell 
no great fccret to any body that hears me, when 
I fay, that when a man thinks of ftepping out 
mto a new Charafter, he is underftood to be 
invading fomebody's provmce, and to be inter- 
fering in fomebody's pretenfions \ it was not 
therefore unnatural, as foon as Mr, Macklin's 
intention to appear in this Charafter was an- 
nounced to the Public, that the Newfpapcrs 
fliould be filled, in the way Newfpapcrs ufually 
are, with ridicule, abufe, and imputations of 
various forts, tending to difcredit Mr. Mack^ 



142 THE LltZ Of 

Xn's firft appearance, and to make it more d3> 
agreeble than he had hoped it would have been 
upon this night. He appeared again on the 
^oth of the fame month, for upon his firft ap«. 
pearance nodiing occurred, but that which 
tiiiaally occurs upon the firil ni^t of all new 
Performers, or all old Performers in new Cha- 
rafters^ That fome approved, and fome dif- 
approved ; and they exprcffed their approba- 
tion and difapprobation in a way, that people 
who go to hear Plays, have too much rcafon 
to complain, that approbation and difapproba- 
tion are expreffed in that place* On the thir- 
iieth of October he appeared the fecond time ^ 
the Newfpapers fulminated as before with addi- 
tional virulence, and tMre were appearances in 
the Houfe of the firft gatherings of a Party, 
for the purpofc of damning this Performer and 
this Performance. Mr. Macklin fought it 
right to adflrefs himfclf to the Audience, to ex- 
prefs his apprehenfions of the treatment pre-^ 
paring for him, and to implore their protedlion 
againft them* He was encouraged, from the 
affurance of that protedion, and he went 
through the Performance, and that day pafled 



CHARLES miACfCLIN,, t4j 

t^out aii)r other material occurrence* On the 
Jixtb of NevmieTy he appeared for the third 
time in Macbeth i it had happened, it feemsj 
in the courlc of the preceding night, that a few 
Gentlemen had thought fit to difltnguifh them-^ 
ielves by being very aftive in this difhirbance^ 
Thefc Gentlemen had been ohfcrved, wd they 
had been named ; and they were, it fcems, a 
Mr* Reddijby 2i Performer at the other Theatre, 
and a Mr. Sparks^ who is the fon of a man 
who was formerly a Performer at this Theatre i 
and who was understood to be purfuing the 
iame profeffion. It was thought^ that it very 
Mtdc became men of their profefllon to take a 
part> and ftill more to take the lead in the vo^ 
ciferation^ that is often pra&ifed upon thefc 
occafion^ ; however, it might be thought, and 
Iprefumewill be faid, as it has been in the 
Newfp^crs, and I dare fay my Learned Friends 
will be prepared to tell you. fo to-day, that it 
is the birth-right of Englifhmcn to hifs and 
ckp. It has never been thought yet, I believe, 
that Performers, liable to the. fame treatment. 
Were entitled to exercifc dieir liberty in the 
fame mode i or at leaft, if they had feelings for 



144 THE LITE OP 

themfelvcs, they might have refrained {torn 
fuch a praftice. But thefc Gentlemen thought 
qtherwife on the fixth of November ; the 
Newfpapcrs being ftill employed, and Afn 
Macklin called upon to produce the proofs that 
Reddijh and Sparks, had hiflcd, and he was told, 
that if he did not, he fhould be expelled the 
St^ge. 

' *^ The produ(fbion of proofs before that; tu- 
multuous judicature, tobefure, was Angularly 
ridiculous j and Mr. Macklin muft have been 
as ridiculous as thofe people who called upon 
him for thofe proofs, if he had attempted it y 
he thinking, that the people, which make the 
moft noife, are the beft entitled to the appella- 
tion of the Public, induced him in fome fenfe to 
comply. The people, that had with fo much 
vociferation, called for the proofs, continued 
to vociferate, and would not permit any one to 
hear thofe proofs. The intention was to keep 
up a noife, and that would have been prevented, 
if they had heard his proofs. 



Charles MACKLiN. 145 

*^ Gentlemen, the difturbance on this night 
rofe very high, and two of the Gentlemen met 
with fomething that they Gonfidered as a per- 
fonal affront to themfelves j a Mr. Aldus and a 
Mr^ James, two of the Parties againft whom 
this Profecution is commenced, met, in different 
parts of the Houfe, with fome infult and fomc 
indignity ; this they naturally, with the difcre- 
tion and the fagacity^ and with the cool delibe- 
ration of judges, imjiuted to Mr. Macklin, he 
being upon the Stage zt the time — he being 
the objed of all this noife. He was fuppofed 
to be concerned, either perfonally or acceffo- 
rily,'or at leaft inftrumentally, in this infult 
offered to thefe. Gentlemen. This was their ' 
idea, or, at leaft, their ftate of it. They take 
the lead henceforward in the courfe of the bufi- 
nefs, which remains for me to ftate to you. I 
don't ftate to you the particulars of that bufi- 
nefs J if thofe particulars are alluded to, or 
brought into proof, for the purpofe of affording 
a defence, or extenuatiofi of their condudt, they 
will convince you, as thefe Gentlemen, have 
been convinced long ago, I believe (if they are 
capable of receiving conviftion) that they were 

Vol. IL L 



146 THE LIFE Of 

by no means imputable to Mr. Macklin, that 
the difordcrs of the night were of cowfe fuch 
difordcrs, as are produced every night, when 
people, who are inflammable, will of couric 
grow inflamed. Altercations and manual deci- 
fions of thofe difputes will naturally arife, and 
it is not to be wondered at, therefore, that they 
did arife. On the 13th of the fame month, 
Mr. Macklin had the hardinefs to attempt, for 
the fourth time, to re-appear in this fame cha- 
rafter of Macbeth. There is an obftinacy in 
the minds of men, arifing from a confcioufnefi 
of being right, and from a confcioufnefs of be- 
ing entitled to public approbation, that will not 
permit them to apprehend that they fhall not 
finally meet with that approbation. Mr. Mack- 
lin, among the faults imputed to him, has to 
anfwer for a great deal of that obftinacy; the 
experience of all thofe former nights had not 
been fufficient to deter him from trying his 
hand once more in Macbeth ; he tried it, in truth, 
to very little purpofcj for the Curtain was 
hardly drawn up, before he was driven from 
the Stage, with marks of outrage that will not 
require a particular difcuflion from me, in this 



charlss MAClCXI^r. 147 

p^ of the Imfinejs ; for I am not yi^ Come to 
die night of the particAiiar outrages, upon which 
yoM are to give your judgment. It W4& necef-* 
&y for me to ftatc thofe particulars, that you 
niig^t be q>prized of that which occafioned 
and produced, and of that which difplays and 
difcovers, the motives of the Parties, who wiil 
appear td you to have afterwards been coUefted 
^and joined in it s for it will appear, that, befides 
riicfe vagalbond Squires, who, from mere wan- 
tonneis, and mere idknefs, run from place to 
place, for the purpofe of laaaking difturbances 
wherever they come— people who love noife, 
and cannot live but in a noife — I. fay, befides 
Gendemen of this defcription, you have her« 
Gemlemen of another defcription. In the firft 
place, here were the friends or the abettors of 
Mfffieurs Reddifi and Sparks. In this lift, I 
believe, the names of thefe Defendants ought 
to hie daflfcd firft J fer I underftand, that Mr. 
Thomas Leigb, who ftands foremoft in this la- 
farmarion,, and who will Ipcedily a{^«ir to you 
to be well entitled to that precedence, diough 
in point .of pttrfcffion he afpires to no higher 
ra«k iimx that of a Taylor^ is the brother ;in 

L2 



J48 THE Lift OF 

law of Mr. Sparks, and is the pcrfon in whofe 
houfe Reddijb lodges. — So connefted with 
Reddijhy and fo forward to efpoufe the fuppofcd 
quarrel of Reddijb i a quarrel in which Reddijb 
had nothing to do, and who was very idle if he 
did think fo, or if this Taylor was fo violent 
and furious to adt without the prompting of 
Reddijb. — It was this way that heigb was 
prompted to take the part he did in this tranf- 
aftion. Aldus and James, as I told you, for- 
footh, had met with fome perfonal ill-treatment, 
and were ftill more extravagant in fancying 
that it proceeded from Mr. Macklin. They 
had what they called a Caufe of their own to 
try. I am at a lofs to comprehend what drew 
Miles and Clarke into this party ; whether it is 
their canncftion or their friendfhip with the 
other Parties ; whether thefe Gentlemen are, 
or not, in this Taylor's books> I do not know; 
or whether they are the acquaintance oi Aldus 
or James, I do not at all know. , I am unable. 
Gentlemen, to affign any motives for them; you 
will find out the motives if there arc any. But 
thefe Gentlemen,thusdilpo(edto co-oper.ate,mct 
together on the night of tKe 1 8th, which is the day 



CHARLES MACICLIN. I49 

immediately in queftion^ in Covent-Garden 
Theatre. — Before this meeting, I am to tell you 
that Leigh thought fit to coUeft a band of Gen- 
tlemen of equal paflion, and equal promptitude 
to a£t according to that warmth and paflion, or 
to adopt his warmth and paflion — men of his 
own defcription. You will learn, with rcfpcdt to 
Leighy that he applied in perfon to fome people 
of his own trade, to folicit their afliftance, re- 
prefenting to them the purpofe for which he 
wanted that afliftance; telling them that a 
certain old Villain, of the name of Mackliny of 
whom they knew nothing, and of whom he 
knew as little, had given fomebody, whom he 
did not know, fome affront ; and, for the pur- 
pofe of revenging that fomebody, they were 
defired to go to this Playhoufe. This Mr. 
Leigh fucceeded very well in his firft efforts to 
colledt a party. For this purpofe, he did what 
prudent Generals generally do, he deputed a 
man, of the name of Archer ^ to aft the part of 
lieutenant-General, and he is fentto fome Ale- 
honit—The Dog,, I think— to head a Party 
there. Another man, with another name, in a 
L3 



15^ THE tirt 0f 

fimikr officer, wa& fent to the Fhcenix Atebeufe^ 
to coifed aioother Paarty there, Gcmlemco, at 
thcie Alekovsfcs Pasf ties weire coUetS^dv forty c^ 
fifty at one> and an equal number at anotsfaer.-^ 
There thcfc inferior officers dad that which was 
very fit to be done, by way of jjftlodc to luch a 
war : they diftributed the Ammionition, dealt 
tf\it the P\jri and the Gin, to fit thew for the 
work it might be thought necefiary afi:erwards 
toem|>loythemin. Thiawas^notthoughtenocigh 
— foch of the men as could read, were |^en a 
paper to read ; fuch of them diat had eyesy and 
could fee, were to take notice of a fignal wtuch 
was to be exhibited ; fuch has had no eyes to fee, 
and could only hear, were told that^trhiftfe would 
be given, which they were to Kften for. The 
Commanders having given theffc orders among 
the very fpiritcd corps of Taylors, they were 
told, that befides all this comfortable prepara- 
tion, they fliould each of them have a Shilling 
a piece, for the night's work ; and, after the work 
Ihoiild be completed, and this old unknown 
Villain, of the name of Macklin, IhouM' be 
flriven to Etell, thefc men Ihould go ^o the 
J^edford Arms and h^ve a fupper. This lyas 



the prc|)aration on the part of Mr. Leigb^ which' 
Ijehink I 0j«e nearly literally according to my 
Inftriff^ons. I don't mean to exaggerate — I 
don't feel myfelf at all able to exaggerate fuch 
t tranfaAiqn^ Gentlemen, while the Com-*- 
m^dpr in Chief, the Taylor, was takii^ thcfe 
mcafures, it wqidd have ill become the reft of 
this •Corps to be idle ; — Mr. JlduSy in the way 
Off his prpfeflTion, for that Gentleman is an At- 
torney, was employing his pen to ftir up this 
commotion ; he is addrefling the Public by 
Jljctten Mr. James y too, was able to write, and 
he made the fame ufe of the fame inftrument. 
Their Letters you will hear read to you ; it will 
not b^ of much importance, poffibly, for me to 
read them i however, I Vill read one or two of 
theni,, if I can.- Mr. James ^ in the Morniqg 
Chronicle of the 17 th of November, the day 
before the day of batde, gave this notice of it : 

" To Mr. Macklin. 
^'Sir, 
*' I, call upon you thus publicly to declare 
** your rcafons for refufmg to meet me at Mr. 
," CoUnan'sj or elfewherc.'*— I do not think it 

L4 



1^2 THE LIFE OF 

ncceflkry to trouble you with a minute detsul of 
all the nonfenfe that has pafled between thcfe 
Parties, nor for the purpofe Air. Macklin was 
defired to me'et at Mr. Colman's. I believe not 
for the purpofe of fighting, but that it was 
fomething equally as ridiculous, and he did not 
chufe to do it. — *^ Or elfewhcre — '* 

*' This is a Gentleman-like infinuation, that if 
Mr. ColmarCs was not a proper place of meet- 
ing, Afr. Macklin^ if he had a tafte for that fort 
of fport, taight have met him in Hyde Park, 
or any other place.-—** As, likewife, who the 
** Gentlewoman is, who firft ftruek, and then 
" fet a Ruffian to affault me, on Saturday even- 
" ing laft, in the Gallery, of Covent-Gardcn 
♦' Theatre ?'* 

" Gentlemen, you fee from the word ** clfe- 
where," that Mr. James is a man at all points 
in the progrefs of the bulincfs. He is a man 
that complains of ah infult from a woman ; this 
Gentlewoman is called upon to be given up by 
Mr. Macklin \ and the reafon of that is, be-» 
caufc a woman was fcen to go into a houfe in 



CHARLES MACKLIN. I53 

Covent-Gardcn, He concludcs-^*^ This I muft 
** infift upon, as I intend to leave you to the 
'* ftings of your own malevolent heart, and the 
*^ refcntment of the much abufed Public."— 
Who this much abufed Public are, I have dated 
to you : it is Mr. Leigb^ Mr. JameSy Mr. Al- 
dus ^ Mr. Clarke^ and Mr. Miles \ together with 
the additional Corps of Journeymen Taylors : 
thefe are the much abufed Public, to whofe re- 
fentment Mr. Macklin was to be turned over, 

** Gentlemen, this Letter from James was on 
the 17th, the day before the day of battle.—- 
Now the day of battle itfelf was ufliered in with 
a Letter from Mr. Aldus^ which I will likewife 
read to you. Mr. Aldus addreflcs his Letter — 

" To Mejfrs. Colmatiy Fijhery Harrisy Dagge, 
" and Leakey Patentees of Covent-Garden 
" Theatre. 

" Gentlemen, I Ihould have been fatisfied 
" with the determination I had taken, of pub- 
" licly calling upon you and Mackliny the firft 
*^ time he appeared on your Stage, had not a 



154 THB LiFS or 

«* Letter, figned Amicus^ in the Morning Poft 
«* of this day, informed mc of your being well 
^' ^prifed of the opinion of numbers reipeffcii^ 
•' Mr. Macklin's performance oi Macbeth j bui^ 
^' regardlefs of the favour of the Public, their 
•' entertainment, arvi lives, you have dcfpifed 
^^ admonition, and therefore ftand charged with 
•' being acceffary to the meafures he took of 
5* filling the Theatre, by circulating Orders to 
^' Kuffians, for the purpofe of aflaulting and 
'* robbing thofe who fhould dare to difapprove 
*' his Performance. 

*' I am one of thoie, who, by prcfuming to 
•' difapprove, on Saturday evening laft, was 
^^ moil infamoufly infulted„ and aflaulted by 
" five or fix Ruffians, Mr. Macklin's friends, 
'^ who were direded to make their attack by 
" a woman in the Gallery." — It fcems this 
terrible woman "has beat Aldus and James — 
" With her affiftance, they beat and bruifed 
*^ me, tore my hair-fhirt — '' As he has a 
hair-ihirt, nothing but the fackcloth and alhes 
are wsu^ted to bring him to his fenfcs. 



CRAAtXt MACRjLIN. I55 

*' Tore my hsar, fhirt^ and cloaths, and had 
^ preyioofly robbed me of my money and 
« handkerchief, and had I not fortunately cf- 
^^ qaped, am confident my life had been in 
*vdanger." 

" Mr. Aldus reafcMis weD; you fee he was a 
fittk in a paflion, I prefume^ when he fat down 
to write, for he rejoices in that fertunntc 
efcape, but for which he had been in danger. 
^^ I therefore give you this public notice, that 
** myfelf and friends, will punftually attend 
*' your Houfe the firft time Mr. Macktin ap- 
^' pears"—The offence Mr. Macklih had 
given, was, his improper or dcfeftive per- 
formance in the Charafter of Macbeth. Mr^ 
jSduSy you fee, warms as he goes on, or he 
forgets that his appearance in the Chara&er of 
Macbeth was that which created this afiault 
and iiifult ; — that now he is come to a deter- 
mination, that the firft time Mr. Macklin ap- 
pears, 4n whatever Charafter it may be, that 
he and his friends will attend the Theatre,— 
" When I expc6k you will be prepared for the 
*^ fummons to appear^ and not be out of tawni 



r56 THE LIFE or 

" and I Ihall cxpeft you to anfwcr me on this 
*' fubjeft, and give me that fatisfa^iion for the 
*' injury I have received, that a candid, inde- 
" pendent Audience Ihall think me juftly cnti- 
'' tied to, 

" You fee. Gentlemen, the declared, often- 
fible objeft of this threat are the Managers j 
they are to be dragged forth to this Tribunal, 
and the cdndidy independent Audience 2xt to judge 
of their merits or demerits. What for ? why, 
to judge of the fatisfaftion he was to receive. — 
You will by and by learn upon what fttisfac- 
tion he was difpofed to acquit thefe Managers. 
Who this candid and independent Audiencevfcrc, 
that were to form this impartial Tribunaly I 
have already apprized you of i they are Jldus, 
Clarke^ Leigby and a long et cetera from the 
Suny the Bogy the MagpiCy the Pbaniocy and all 
the Alchoufes about town, where Journeymen 
Taylors are to be picked up for fuch fort of 
Services. Thefe are the impartialy candid Au^ 
dienccy that are to try the merits of thefe Gen- 
tlemen, who, by the bye, contrived to turn 
this extraordinary Judicature againft a Pcrfoa 



CHARLES MACKLIK. I57 

who was.no party to th€ Caufe. On this i8th 
of November, it remains for me to tell you, 
that the Performance of the night was no 
longer Macbeth — Whether Mr. Mackliu had or 
had not acquitted himfclf well in that Charader, 
which nobody but himfclf knew, nor himfelf 
neither, I believe ; for, in fuch a fituation, it is 
not rcafoniable to fuppofe that he had collec- 
tion enouglv about him to be able to judge of 
his own performance, Mr. Mackliny however, 
left the cafe to be decided upon fome future 
occafion, poffibly left it to be adjournedy?^^ dicy 
and poffibly never meant again to refume it, 
or poffibly might, if another candid Audience, 
.inftead of thcfe Journeymen Taylors, (hould be 
again coHeAed^ however, that be as it may, 
the idea of performing Macbeth was abandoned; 
and next morning ufhered in the defign of the 
Managers to entertain the Public with the 
Merchant of Venice and Love-a-la-Mode^ and 
Mr. Macklin was to appear in the Character of 
- Shy lock in the one, and of *S/> Arcby Mac/arc ajm 
in the other; Parts which he admirably well 
fupports; whenever they have been repreicnted 
by him, they have been as admirably repre- 



IjS f tt£ LI» Of 

iemedbodiki the one and in die Other* Thoie 
who go to the Hayhouie, for the f^dce of being 
enterumed, are thofe wlio go there front the 
good opinioo which all the world entertain of 
both thefe Per^aiances> and from a wi(h to 
fee both thefe Charafters afted widi advantage ; 
diey were ofcourfe inrited^ and were prepared 
to form the Audiencc> which were to be pre- 
ient at this reprefentation of thefi^ two Pkjrs^ 
but> however, by the preiiminary drcum- 
fiances which you have heard me ftate^ yxM 
are apprized^ that it was not tl^ pleafure of 
thefe high and mighty Powers, coUeiftedfrom sdl 
theie garrats and cellars, that the Public ihould 
fee Mr. Macklin in the Charafter of Sbyiock, 
or Sir Archy Mac/arcafm j and the only Cha- 
rafter in which Mr. Macklin in future was to 
be fecn, was that of a Delinquent, or con- 
demned Malefa£tor, at the Bar of the Public, 
who were to be coflcftcd to be judges upon 
him, and he was to be treated with the out- 
rages you will hear prclcntly were diought 
proper to be paflcd upon him. 



CHARLBft MACKLiN* I59 

ife j • ** Thtfc different fquadrons were difpofed 

Jg f to the bcft advantage. The Journeymen Tay- 

ie i iors^ who were to aft the Part of Gods, were 

rf : ^ diftribuied in their proper region j thofe Gende-^ 
» ; men of a middle ftatc were placed in their proper 

; I place; they were ftationcd in the Two Shilling 

i i Galleiy: thofe Gentlemen ofa higher ftatbn^ 

pardcnlarly Mr. Leigh himfelf^ kd t&e iquadroii 
in the Pit i Mr* Clarh's poft was in the Box 
over the Stage. Mr. Aldus announced hb 
entry in a very theatrical way, indeed, for he 
came in through one of the doors in the Boxes, 
and prefendy darted himfelf into the Pit.— *I 
don't thmk Mr. Aldus' s figure qualifies ' him 
well to a6k Ae Part of Harlequin ; however^ 
he attempted it, and iucceeded in it^ for th^c 
are many things which men's vigour and cou« 
rage enable them to achieve, which their pru- 
dence would have prevented. — He leaped over 
the Boxes into the Pit. — Now> Gentlemen, you 
will fee how they were ftationed: — one of the 
detachments in the Upper Gallery was com- 
manded by LegrQvere^ who muft be, I fup- 
pofc, a Swifsj ^ it was very fit that an army, 
upon fuch an expedition, Ihould be com- 



l60 THE LIFE OF 

mandcd partly by a Swifs. The Commander 
of thofc ftationed in the Two Shilling Gallery 
was from a nearer Country— -Mr. Mac Farley 
I Ihould fuppofe led the Squadron there 5 
jildus was firft in the Box, then in the Pit| 
Clarke was in a Box over the Stage; all 
things were thus prepared for the Battle.—- 
If I could defcribe the Managers, I would at- 
tempt a little defcriptiqn of their fituation upon 
this occafion. I conjecture, from the know- 
ledge I have of fome of them, that they were 
all, by this time, trembling alive in the Green 
Room J for they forefaw, that whatever might 
be the conqueft, or whoever might be the vic- 
tors, they were fure to profit little, and they 
were fure to be defeated, whoever might be 
triumphant : they looked at their Chandeliers, 
probably, wiftfully, forefeeing that they were 
looking at them for the laft time 5 they looked 
at their Benches, apprehending and fearing 
that thofe Benches would foon come much 
nearer in contaft , with them, than while they 
remained in the fituation in which they placed 
them. They kept off^ the important fignal 
whigh was to commence hoftilitics. They 



CHARLES MACKLIN. l6l 

kept the Curtain down as long as they could, 
but pcrfifting in the purpofe of keeping the 
Curtain down, would equally have difobliged 
every part of the Audience j and, after they 
yielded to the invincible neceffity of the occa- 
lion, and the Curtain arofe, then the battle be- 
gan. Gentlemen, you undcrftand enough of the 
Performance to know that Sbylock does not 
make his appearance in the firft Scene. Other 
Performers, who had offended nobody, nof 
meant to offend any body, came forward to adt 
their Parts j they were inftantly faluted with a 
ftrong denunciation of this body of confpira- 
tors, ^ that, if they would confult their own 
fafcty, they had better get out of their reach.* 
When this vengeance was announced, they 
were not in a humour to flay i they hurried 
away, and probably overturned fome of the 
Managers in their efcape. That threat being 
underftood to go to Mr. Mackliriy he, the De- 
linquent, came forward with fuch feelings as I 
leave to better defcription :— he came forward 
with thofe feelings which others feel, at other 
places, where they arc to perform for die kfl 
time. 
Vol. II. M 



i62 tnt Lirs or 

" Mr. Macklin, however, came forward-— and 
he tried, by all the means that occurred to him 
to be proper, to deprecate the vengeance to 
himfelf, to excite their companion, and to call 
for the protection of thofe that had called them- 
felves, or had been called by Aldus^ ' the candid^ 
impartial Audience.* He put himfelf in all the 
humiliating and fupplicating poftures he could i 
he endeavoured to throw as much complacency 
in his countenance as his features would per- 
mit of He tried to make himfelf heard, but 
he tried to flill lefs purpoie than I fometimes 
try, when fpeaking in an Audience like the pre- 
fent. No — hearing was not the bufmefs at 
all : — Will foothing do ? Will looking as you 
like do ? Why none of thefe things will do — 
Well — What will do ? . * Why you old whor- 
ing Rafcal, you fuperannuated Villain'— -and 
abundance of epithets of that fort — ' you muft 
go to Hell i if you will confcnt to go there, all 
is well : peace will be reftorcd, provided you 
will be the voluntary facrifice for that peace.' 
Now Mr. Macklin has never yet held himfelf 
forth to perform the Part of Thejeus^ or of going 
to Hell i if that fliould ever be the cafe, it was 
the <bufmefs of iuiother time — it wa« not the 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 163 

bufinefs pf the night. It was not the inten- 
tion of Mr. Macklin to fubmit to the plea- 
fure of this Public in that trifling particular. 
Mr. Macklin retired, the clamour inpreafed — 
Mr. Macklin advanced, the clamour incr?afed 
ftill higher — Mr. Macklin all but kneeled ; I 
do not know whether he did not go down upon 
one knee : — this procured a momentary ap- 
probation, but, as the other knee did not accom- 
pany it, the uproar increafed. Mr. Macklin 
ftill had courage enough to diftinguifh himfelf 
from thofe Performers who had preceded him, 
and retreated ; , but he was fpeedily told, that 
this was not a bufinefs of words, that noife was 
not all he had -to apprehend. This intimation 
was given him by an apple, which hit him full 
in the face. Gentlemen, you need not be told, 
that when one apple begins to fly in this Place, 
there arc a thoufand ready to fly, and the ftorm 
began ;to be general. ■ It was tinie Mr. Mack* 
lin fliould confult his fafety — he did as many 
heroes before him have done — he thought run- 
ning away was no bad policy, for then he might 
live to fight another day; but if he ftaid, the 
bufinefs would end there. 

M2 



164 THI LIFB Of 

" Thofc Spcftatora that were difpofcdto fee, 
remained for fomcthing to be fccn and h^arc^s 
the clamour at length grew diftinft enough to 
point out| to thofe within the founds what it was 
that was expeded^ and infifted upon — the dif-- 
milHon of Mr. Macklin was called for : — the 
Managers were called out in order to confent 
to that difmiffion. The Managers, who had, I 
believe, as little tafte for apples as Mr* Mack- 
lini thought it ilill right to be fnug, but thought 
it prudent ftill to acquiefce, and they called for 
the afliftance of one of the Performers firft 1 he 
painted a large board black, as a fignal of the 
funeral occafion that produced it ; upon that 
there were, in large legible white charafters, 
thefe words exprefled " At tm£ command 
"OF TM Public, Mr.Macklii^ is dis- 
•^ CHARGED.'' One would have imagined 
that this fhould have been enoi^h. No, even 
diis was not enough; * for who knowiP who it is 
that has painted this black board and the white 
infcription upon it ?'— All this while, Macklin 
might not poffibljr be difcharged. ' Let us, 
while we are in the moment of viftory, fee that 
that viftory be complete j that it be decifive 5 



CHARLE9 MACKLIN. 165 

don't leave it to chaqice, and for them to tcU 
m, by and by, that we fhall have this battle tp 
fight again/ The hclter-lkelter people, the 
light horfc troops that came forward, they and 
Macklin, the nK>rc formidable body, had b^en 
routed, but ftill the Managers were Ikulking 
and hiding themfelves. ' Let us make ufe of 
our viftory with a deliberation, a coolnefs, and 
circumfpcftion that becomes great officers,' as 
I have defcribed them. They peremptorily 
infiftied that the Managers Ihould come forth, 
and they were not content with the affurances 
that they had received, but they diftihguifhed 
a very worthy friend of mine, Mr. Caiman^ 
and they infilled that he (hould come forth* 
Mr. Colmariy with a relu6tance which I do not 
wonder at, which in the fame fituation I Ihould 
have felt ; Mr. Colman was dragged forwards, 
and obliged to make his appearance. Some of 
the Benches had began to be torn up ; one of 
the Chandeliers had been attempted to be 
broken; the mifchicf was inftantj the ruin was 
bevitable. Nothing but an occafion fo prefix- 
ing as that could have drawn my friend from 
Mj 



l66 THE LIFE OF 

his hiding place ; that occafion did draw him j 
out he came to receive the fentenceof thk 
Public. He was the Principal of thofe Defen- 
dants that Mr. Aldus had made fuch, by his 
Declaration filed in the Morning Poft that 
morning j he came to know what was their 
pleafure relpefting him; it fcemed it was juft 
that which Mr. Aldus hinted at in his letter 
in the morning ; namely, that he was to give 
that fatisfa6lion to Mr. Aldus y for the injury he 
had received, that a candid^ independent Au- 
dience fhould think him entitled to. This 
candidy independent Audienceythought Mr. Aldus 
entitled to that fatisfaftion, which confifted in 
a perpetual difmiffion of Mr. Macklin. Mr. 
Colmany finding that, this was the fenfe of this 
impartial Tart of the Audience, as foon as he 
was permitted to be heard, repeated that Mr. 
Macklin was difmifled; that it was their objefl: 
always to pleafe the Public, and their hap- 
pinefs to conform to their pleafure, when 
they knew what their pleafure was. 

" I don't wonder that my little friend did not 
diftinguijfh the Public from thefe People, who 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 167 

faifed this clamour — it was not a momciit for 
nice diftinftions j becaufe^ if they had been dif- 
tinguifliedj it would have produced fome per- 
fonal outrage to himfelf^ and fome injury to his 
property. He found himfelf unable to contend 
with the ftreamj and Mr. Macklin was dif- 
mifTed. This was the purpofc for which this 
army was coUefted together} this purpofc 
they completed; therefore, when this obje^ 
was accomplifhed, they are difmifled; the bu* 
finefs was at an. end ; the Public went with-- 
out any entertainment for the night. 

^' It may not be amifs. Gentlemen, for me 
to tell you, that the way by which this pleafurc 
of this Public was communicated to Mr. Col* 
man (for ,the noife was too great to hear any 
thii^) was by a Paper written by one of thefe 
Defendants 5 it was handed about to the reft of 
them, and approved of, importing, that the 
Public expefted Mr. Macklin fhould be dif- 
miffed the Theatre. I pafs over abundance of 
minuter circumftances, which poflibly might 
have afforded you fome entertainpient, if you 
had not too much bufinefs to ^o here to admit 

M4 



i6t THi Ltrs dP 

#f going farther than the occafion requires. I 
fiiight have tdld you of two or three other Am- 
hafiadors, diipatched by thefe high Powers 
within, to the ftill higher Powers without, in 
the number of whom, I perceive, is my old 
Friend Woodwardy who was unfortunate in this 
Embafly ; he was difmifled with the fame igno- 
miny that attended thofe who had given the 
oflFence. — Of the bufinefs of the day I have 
given you the outlines. I muft fay a word or 
two more upon what paf&d afterwards ; from 
whence you will judge, if, upon thele circum- 
ftances, you can have any doubt of the motives 
of thefe parties^ and of the fhare they reipcc- 
tively had in this outrage. On the aoth of this 
fame mondi of November, the i8th being the 
day of the tranfadtion, Mr. Miles, who is one 
of the Gentlemen that I told you, at the outfet, 
I was not perfc6Uy able to account for the 
conduft of J— enabled the Public to account 
for it, by this account of it himfelf, in a Letter 
in the Morning Chronicle. 

*' Sir, It is impoffible that I can defcend to 
*^ a conteft with an anonymous Writer s yrt, in 



CHARLES MACKLLIN. 16^ 

'^ juflice to Mr. Cdlman, I aflbre you, that no 
*' mcflages paiSed between us that evening, nor 
" any other, relative, in the leaft, to Mr. Mack^ 
<f lin : — your Correfpondent of this date, who 
*' figns himfelf ' One of the Boxes y* is therefore 
'^ guilty of an abfolute faUhood. As to the 
'^ part I have taken againil: Mr. Macklinj I am 
" ready to juftify it to him, or his aflbciates. 
^ Theinfult offered to Mejfrs. Aldus zxA James 
«< was a matter of ierious confequence to the 
** Public, no lefs than a pofitive denial of a 
^^ right hidierto held facred, till difputed by 
^« Mr. Macklin:' 

" Gentlemen, what that right is> Mr. Milefs 
Counfel will, by and by, inform you, I do not 
rightly underftand what that right is, for which 
he avows himfelf a champion, Poflibly it may 
be Mr. Macklin's miftake that he had a right 
to be prcfcrved in his perlbn and property j 
pofiibly A!^. Macklin naay be told, that Mr. 
Miles has found out fome reafon why it is com- 
petent to him to deprive him of both. He 
proceeds — ^^ It became a queftion, and it was 
<^ of importance to the Public to decide it: I 



170 THE Liri OF 

*' have a right to deKvcr my opinion in a Ri- 
** tifh Theatre," — ^Is this the right then that 
Mr. Macklin difputes — the right oi Mr. Miles 
to deliver his opinion in a Theatre ? I don't 
Jcnow in what ftage of this bufinefs Mr. Macklin 
can be fuppofed to have controverted his right 
to deliver his opinion in a Theatre. ** This 
*' became a queftion, and it was of importance 
«' to decide it/' The propriety of that decifion> 
he declares himfelf determined to maintain 
while he has life and vigour ; in this way, thefe 
various Parties are connefted in this bufinefs, 
and when it comes to be laid before you, from 
the proofs more at large, it will, I truft, efta- 
blifh at leaft the outlines of the cafe I have ftatcd 
to you in the outfet^ 

^' Certainly I fhall better confult the intereffc 
of my Client, by leaving this bufinefs in this 
ftage of it, referving to myfelf the right Mr. 
Milis contends for, of delivering my opinion 
to the Public. — Gentlemen, I do not forefee 
that there can be any attempt to defend either 
of thefQ Parties, but upon a ground which was 
ineffcftpally attempted in an earlier ftage of thia 



CHARLE$ MACKLIN. 17I 

bufincfs ; and that ground, for fear I Ihould not 
have an opportunity to reply, I will'difcufs now, 
before I fit down ; and that is, that though all 
thcfc Parties, fcparately and individually, adted 
culpably'^afted criminally, yet, the cafe is 
fuch, that they are not to be combined toge- 
ther, or to be affefted with the idea of a con- 
piracy to hurt or prejudice Mr. Macklin; for 
the injury to Mr. Macklin, as well as the out- 
rage and offence to the Public, conftitutes that 
criminality which is imputed to the Defendants. 
Whether they are guilty of this outrage, and 
being guilty of it, afted with a view to preju- 
dice Mr. Macklitiy and to abufe the Public, will 
be for your confideration ; but, in one Count, 
they are charged with confederating to do this, 
or, in plain Englifh, afting in concert. To 
this part of the Charge then, I cxpedt the De- 
fence will be dircfted. If this Ihould turn out 
to be the Defence, I take leave, at the outfct, 
to tell you, that though I don't prove all thefe 
Squires met at thefe different Akhoufcs, or 
pcrfonally converfed with thefe different Squa-. 
drons— -though I don't prove any previous 
meeting, which, if it exiftcd, it is not to b« 



17^ 1*HS tlfM OF 

proved by mc — ^Men, who come only fer pur^ 
pofcs which are not thofe imputed to Aem by 
this Profccution, will come into the Houfe, and 
be quiet there^ till fome occafion Ihall have 
arifen at lead to call upon them to be other- 
wife : the reverfe of that is the condutSi: of all 
thefc Parties, Thefe Gentlemen^ when they 
met in the different parts of this Theatre, 
formed one body, fcattered and difperfed as 
that body was, throughout the different re- 
gions of that Theatre. . The Taylors above, 
the Squires below, the Gentlemen in the mid- 
dle, all united and formed one Phalanx ; though 
they did not ftand foot to foot, and breaft. to 
brcaft, they formed a body better difpoied for 
executing the purpofe for which they were col- 
Icfted. I truft that the evidence will be fqffi*- 
cient to fatisfy you that they all came to this 
place for one common purpofe. If the truth 
had been * that they came there quietly, with- 
out any premeditation or purpofe whatfoever, 
yet, being there, if they abetted that purpofe> 
as foon as it was difclofed,' that, I apprehend, 
would be Sufficient to fix upon them the im- 
putation of ading in concert in this bufinefs s 



CHARLKS MACRLIK. I7J 

but more than that the Cafe clearly proves, and 
Evidence will eilablifli i for they came there 
with purpofes hoftile to Mr. Mackljn : fome, 
bccaufe they thought others had been aflfironted; 
hmc becaufe they thought thcmfelves had been 
affronted j two of thefe Gendemen without 
any affignable reafon whatfoever, but an ima-- 
gination that here was fome queftion to be. 
tried) fome caufc to be debated, fome tribunal 
CO try the merit of that caufe. They were all 
collected, and that for one common purpofe, 
which was to procure, that which was prociu-ed, 
the difmiifion of Mr. Macklin, and that that 
difmiffion was to be perpetual* 

" The confcquenccs of this outrage I need 
ifct pardcularly ftate to you j every body knows, 
that, from that moment to this, Mr. Macklin 
is kept without employment, and, of courfe> 
kept without bread (unlefs his former induftry 
had fumifhed him with the means) to the end 
of his life.— It is the pleafure of thefe Gentle- 
men that it Ihould be eternal.— Then this is 
the Cafe of the Profecutor, as far as an indivi- 
dual is concerned in this Profecution, who 



174 THE LiFi or 

/ comes to folicit from" you that proteftion he 
has in vain folicited clfcwherc — who comes to 
appeal to the Laws of his Country, being fatis- 
ficd that you will Hand between him and ruin ; 
that you will, by finding thefe Gentlemen 
guilty (in confequence of which, the Court 
will do what they think proper for the pur- 
pofe) leave them out, at lead, of the number 
bf his a&ive enemies, and permit him to earn 
that bread, that he has been accuftomed to earn, 
and to afford that entertainment to the Public, 
which the Public have been accuftomed to re- 
ceive from him. The Public have a right to . 
cxpeft it— he is ready to give it— -and nobody 
oppofes him but the Gendemen who now 
ctJme before you, to agitate and debate this 
queftion ; and to call upon you, as fitting in 
the place of this candid^ impartial Audience^ to 
decide this matter of right. You will decide it, 
and I am pcrfeftly aware how you will decide 
it : you will decide that, which is the only 
queftion here ; * whether an honcft man has a 
right to get his bread by his profeffion, and 
that it ought not to be permitted to the licen- 
tious paffions of men, and, ftill more, the nui- . 



CHARLES MACKLIN. IJ ^ 

levolent paffions of men, to prevent him ?'— 
As I know it is your duty, I truft it .will be 
your care, fo to difpofe of this fubjeft, as will 
prevent a repetition of fimilar outrages. They 
are difgraceful to the place, they are difgrace- 
ful to the Public, and bring. upon the Na- 
tion at large great imputations, and well- 
founded ones, of national favagenefs and bar«* 
barity. They have drawn upon us, in the 
judgment of all difpalTionate writers upon the 
fubjeft, a great deal of ill-founded imputation^ 
and extended, upon the People at large, a great 
deal of philofophical difcuflioa upon occafioni 
like the prefcnt. — It is for you to refcuc 
the Nation from imputations which are 
thrown upon it by fuch fcenes as this. It 
is for you, as you regard your own per- 
fonal entertainment, as you wifh your own 
families fhould partake of the diverlions of the 
Theatre, and the Public at large, it is for you 
to proteft the Places where they arc exhibited, 
and the Pcrfons employed in the exhibiting of 
them. Gentlemen, thefe purpofes, all of them 
coUefted, 1 am fure afford fuch a call as it is 
impoflible that you fhould be deaf to ; for, if I 



176 THB LIf 1 or 

was to entertain a doubt about what would be 
your conduft ; if the circumftances come out 
in evidence as I have ftatcd them to you, I 
I fliould think, that inftead of addrefling, as I 
think I am, a candid and impartial Audience, 
(thofe words are to be underftood in the fenfe 
Mr. James and Mr. Aldus ufes them ; and to 
be applied to thofe, who neither know the 
meaning of the words, or, if they do, don't re- 
gard the thing). — If it comes to be decided by 
a Jury of another dejcriftion^ I am lure you 
will pronounce the Defendants guilty of the 
outrage, charged upon them by this indift- 
ment, and, of courfe, the Court may interpofe 
to do that which the occafion calls for. From 
the firft to the laft — no purpofes of vengeance, 
no purpofes of pecuniary advantages, no other 
purpofes, than thofe, which I have mentioned, 
ever aftuated the mind of Mr. Macklin, or the 
minds of thofe by whofe advice he has pro- 
ceeded. So feeling — he muft not be a man if 
he did not feel, and not an Englifhman if he 
did not expeft, that reparation which, in 
juftice and propriety he has a right to expeft. 
He has conformed himfclf to that advice. 



GHARLB9 MACKLIN. . 177 

•fmi when ygu luave done your duty^ by coxp- 
▼ifting thefe P^ople^ k will ftill be com- 
petent for them to re-eftabUlh Mr. Macklin 
ia die fituation from which they have drag- 
ged him I to indemnify him for the injury done 
him ; and to enable him agun to retutn to a 
£tuatioa to. get his bread* All thefe confider- 
^oas will come to . he difcufifed eUewhere i in 
the pi^eicnt moment^ it is only necefTary iov me 
-to ftate thm much of it, from an s^prehenfion> 
which I heHeve too well founded, that I ihall 
have no other opportunity of ftddreffing you. ^ 
'Thoie ill-founded charges, with wluch the 
^laintifT, I have no doubt, will be plentifully 
be^Mittered, as if this was intended for pur- 
pofeS of mifchie^ of extortion, or undue ad« 
vantage : no fuch purpofes ever actuated any 
part of thefe proceedings : It is under that im- 
preflion that I ftand before you as the advocate 
foe this proiecution. In the early ftages of this 
bufmefs,, the Court, with unufual humanity, 
tnterpofed between all thefe Parties, and re- 
commended to one to accept, and to the other 
to perform, what the juftice of the caib re- 
Yoh.U. N 



178 • TH£ LIFJE OF 

quired -, which tbey^ thought proper to tehCc^ 
Mr. Aldus J with his bair-clotb about him, has 
not yet added any of the proper concomitants 
with it : the reft of the Gentlemen, without thi3 
hair-clotb-^Mr. Miles determines, while life 
and vigour remains, to fight it to the la(L 
This is the laft ftage, I truft, in which it will 
be permitted to him or any other perfon to ad 
this outrage. Not only Mr. Macklin^ but his 
'daughter, whofe merit every body acknow^ 
ledges, whofc Chara6ter, both on and oflFthc 
Stage, every body sq^plauds, is a fufferer by 
thefe outrages i for fhe is deprived of her cuf- 
tomary advantage, by the afliftance of her Fa- 
ther, in her annual Benefit. Yet, all this ill 
ufage has not excited in his mind a wilh to 
extend that ruin to thofe from whom it comes. 

" Gentlemen, I have ftatcd to you what the 
objeft of this profccution is : if that objed^bc 
now or ever attained, the Profccution is at an 
end ; for it will have procured its whole and 
fole purpofe, I will no longer trouble your 
patience. I will fit down while my friends, call 
the witneflcs. When they have done that, I 



J 



CHARLES MACKLII^. . 179 

will venture to prophefy, that you ydll hear 
no Witneffes called on the Part of the Defen- 
dants, to contradid: what thofe Witncflcs Ihall 
depofc. I prophefy it, as knowing it is the 
bcft method the Gentlemen can take for their 
Clients; and, therefore, I give them credit for 
mking it. If it fhould not be fb, it will be^^ 
permitted me to trouble you again. My def- 
pair of being permitted to do that, will be my 
apology for detaining you fo long." 



€H9. VI. . 

AFTER the whole of the Witneffes were 
examined; the Evidence was fummed 
up,. with great ability, by 

Mr. Jl/STlCE AsTON, 

" Gentlemen, this is an exceeding long trial, 
and k is a matter of great moment to the Par- 
tics ; therefore, I will not fum it up Ihortly, 



l80 THE LIFE 6F 

but ftatc the evidence as it was given, with 
fome few obfervations of my own. 

*' This is an Information againft the five 
Defendants for making and raifing a riot, in 
Covent-Garden Theatre, upon the i8th* of 
February, i773> and confpiring to rub, in his 
profcffion of a Player, Charles Macilin^ and 
in this riot, on the 1 8th of November, pre- 
venting him from performing the Charadtcr of 
Shylocky in the Merchant of Venice^ and for 
compelling Mr. Colmaiiy one of the Proprietors, 
againft his will, to difcharge this Perfon from 
his employment. 

" To this Information the Defendants feve- 
rally pleaded not guilty. 

. " Gentlemen, in the firft place, you will ob- 
ferve, five Gentlemen arc diftin&ly concerned for 
the five Defendants J and there is not one 6f them 
but what has concluded with an acknowledgment 
that thefe Perfons, at kail, muit be convifted of 
the riot, and they only want to get rid of the 
chlirge of the con^iracy. Now, with regard 
to the confpiracy, you will attend to the Evi- 



CHARLES MACKLIN. igf 

dcncc, and if you ftiould be of opinion, upon thi^ 
Evidence, that they all aded in concert to that- 
one end of driving Macklin off the Stage, and 
of his being prohibited for the future, asaPer-r 
former J that the black board and white letters 
was the fatisfa£tory fentenceto come upon Mr. 
MackUuy m confequence of what they did there i 
I think you will then have very little doubt 
but that thefe Perfons did altogether confpire, 
and aft in concert, to obtain this wiflied endr 

** In the next place, I will juft mention as 
it will occ¥r in the Evidence to you, for I will 
ftate afterwaj^ the particular evidence that 
affeds each perfon, that it is quite ridiculous 
to fuppofe that the quarrel in^he Gallery, on 
an antecedent night, between one or two of 
thefe Gentlenicn and a Woman that he docs 
not know, fhoiild be the occfifion and founda- 
tion of making ufe of fuchr expreffions as are in 
this Lctter.'r-I Ihall Ihortly read to you thefe 
particular parts, 

'^ It will appear plainly that was not the end 
of iti and thoi^ thefe Letters come fubfe-- 



iSa THE LIFE or 

qucnttothc 1 8 th of November, you will find 
they are dated many days preceding ; and the 
other, of the 20th, refeiring to a quarrel and 
rcfcntment antecedent to it. 

- " To prove this cafe, and to induce you to 
believe that it is a confpiracy; to fhcw how the 
Plaintiff has been injured, they called 

" Mr. Garton, be is the Treafurer^ and as 
Treqfurerj he was to receive the money, and • 
pay the Salaries to the Performers. Mr. Col- 
man, the Afting Manager, engages the Per- 
formers, and appoints the Plays— the Witnejsy 
<w Treafurer, always bad a lift of the Names 4)f 
the Perfons tbat^played, and the Salaries. The 
Witne fs fays that Macklin zvasin the Lift at 400I. 
•for the feafon. 

^* That on the i8th of November, the Mer^ 
€hant of Venice and Lqve-a-la- Mode were to 
be exhibited; .that the Witne fs paid him what 
was due to him before. The laft payment was 
on the 20th of November, and that was 
34I. 14s. which was to the i-jtb 4)fthat month. 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 183 

and th^thchsddire^okSyfrom Mr. Ctdman, to 
pay him no farthei: ; fo that you fee he was 
then difchargedj and you will obfcrve, here, 
that if the quarrel was only to prohibit his aSling 
Macbetby there was no fort o{ neceffity for all 
this violence andf outrage when he was to adt 
Sbylocky in the Merchant of Fenice, and to a& 
another Charadter in Love-a-la^Mode. Then 
Mr. Mackliny who is the fufierer upon this 
occafion^ and who brings this Profecution, tells 
yoUj he is by Profeflion an Ador» and has 
been fo for fortyrthree years. 

" That he was employed at this Salary ^ and 
was to have icx)L for a new Farce. — He fays 
he believes that might depend upon thefuccefs of 
his Piece ; and he was alfo to have a Benefit ^ in 
February 5 tj^at the value of the Benefit might 
be 200I. or 230I. — Gentlemen, that is not the 
queftion herci for you arie not to aflefs da- 
mages, but to declare, whether you, in your 
confciences; think the Defendants guilty — ^And 
you are not to aflefs damages refpefting the Be- 
nefit, that he takes in prefents from his friends 

N4 



184 THE LIFB G9 

for Places. He fays hk played Sfykck upon 
die 4/A <J«/ 15/* of Oftobcr, 1773, and playe4 
Macbeth four times^ on the 23d and the jodi 
of OAober> and the 6th and 1 3th of Novem* 
ber, before his difixiiffion from the Thcatre> 
which^ he fays^ affeded him ^try much, as hd 
never met with a difgrace^ like it before. He 
then gives you an account of what pafifi^d on 
the 23d of Oftobcr; that, before he fpoke a 
word, he was very much hifled. And he tells 
you how he had been treated in the Papers on 
the 30th of Oftober, and how Riddisji and 
Sparks hifled him. 

<* Gentlemen/ I would have you lay allihat 
$ut oftht eajey and come immediately to the 
l8di of November, which is tin time when 
the particular outrage was c^mmitted^iJm^ i$ 
laid in this information. 

" He lays, that foon after the 18th of No- 
vember, when he was expelled, he waited upon 
James J and aiked him what he had done to cx^ ^ 
cite fuch cruel treatment, as to deprive him of 
his bread, James went through every attend- 



CHAIti.ES MAOKLIN« 185 

ance of lus at the Playhoufe> on the 6di of 
November^ the 13th and i8tk, and iaid, ' that 
b€ had written a Letter^ and infulted him with 
feme warmth> and that he had treated hinr 
with radenefsy ior not meeting him at Mr. Ce/- 
man*si* to wMlch Mr. Macklin faid, ^ Tau^ 
who could miftake another woman for my wife, 
and load her with the infamy oi ftrikingyoui 
as you could do thatj I did not care to truft 
you with a meeting at Mr. Colman's, left you 
ifaould make a bad ufe of it/ Then he animadn 
Tcited upon die power of a Gentleman in the 
Theatre ; that it was of an extent to prohibit 
any Performance or Performer, Mr, Macklin^ 
fudj ^he did not come to difpute the point of 
Law with him, but defired he would with- 
draw Ms Prohibition to the Managers, as it 
would deprive him of his living, and he did nof 
want to go to Laws but that, if he was cut off 
from gaining a Jubfijfknce for his family, he 
muft appeal to the Laws of his Country.' 

*^ James J then, acknowledged the Letter that 
has been rea^, which was injerted in the Morn^^ 
ing Cbronide^ dated November 17/ib, l^J3y 



l86 THE LIF£ OF 

That letter begins with mentioning his refuting 
to meet him at Mr. Colman'Sy and fpeaks of 
an afiault in Covent-Gardcn Theatre, by a Gen^- 
tkwoman— it concludes thus: "I intend to 
*^ leave you to the ftings of your own malcvo- 
** fcnt heart, and the refentmifnt of the much 
" abufed Public." 

. ^* Now I ihould be glad to know, how anj^ 
fuarrel thsLt fhis man accidentally might, have 
in the Gallery, with a woman, has any thing ai 
all to do or relates to the Public. Therefore 
this Letter, dated the 17th of November, is 
Evidence to prove the conlpiracy '^ it fliews 
there wzs/ometbing more in the mind of t\i\% nian, 
whole Letter I have now read to you. There 
is a complaint of a fuppofed injury received 
from a woman, who had gone into Mr. Mack- 
lin*s houfc. What has the Public to do with a 
man having a flap on the face^ from a woman he 
quarrelled with, who happened to be in the 
Gallery ? Then, he fays 'he knows %duSy he 
had a converfation with him, in which he ac- 
knowledged himjelf to be the Author of the Let- 
ter, on Thurfday the i8th November, 177 J/-— 



CHARLES MACSLIX. 187 

Gentlemen, this is along Letter : I fliall take 
up only thefc two parts of it : It is dircfted to 
the Patentees of Covent-Garden Theatre,— 
" NotwitRftanding your being well apprized of 
*^ the opinion of numbers refpefting MackUri's 
." performances of Macbeth, but, rcgardlefi 
'^ of the favour of the Public, their En- 
*' tertainments, anc^ Lives, •you have de- 
" fpifed admonition, and ftand charged with 
" being acceflary to the meafures he took of 
*' filling the Theatre, by circulating Orders to 
*' Ruffians, for the purpo/e of ajfaulting and roih- 
'^ hing thoje who fhould dare to difafprove his 
." Performante.'' The letter concludes thus : 
"I therefore give you this public notice— my- 
^'felfand friends will pundtually attend your 
** Houfe the firft time Mr. Macklin appears" 
—not when he appears in that particular cha- 
rafter — *^ when I expeft you will be prepared 
'^ for the fummons to appear, and not be out 
*' of Town i and I fliall exped you to anfwer me 
" upon this fubjedk'*— And fo on. — 

'^ It is fpoke of as a furprifing thing, that this 
Gentleman, Mr. Aldus, fliould have, a league 



l88 THE LIFE OF 

with fuch a man as Leigh y a taylor ? Why 
Leigby a taylor, capable of hiring people to do 
what you have heard, is a very projpcr pcrfon 
to be employed in fuch a buiinefs. * 

*^ Then Mr. Macklin goes on to give you an 
account of what paflcd upon the litbo/No^ 
vember. I have* pajfed oiksr the reft — for the 
1 8 th is the time that is material tQ attend to. 
He fays, ^ that before theCurtain was drawn up, 
he heard a great acclamation among the Au^ 
diencey that he faw Aldus come out of the 
front Box, into the Pit j and he was received 
widi various kinds of applauje.^ " The next re- 
markable incident is — * The Defendant Clarke 
came into the Box, over the Stage Door, next 
the Scenes. Ujpon his appearance there was 
an applaufe of the fame fort as when Aldus ap- 
peared. When the Curtain drew up, or rather 
before, there was a Chorus of " No Play, no 
Play — Offy off.*' This came chiefly from the 
Pit. The ASorSy he faysf were quite ftlent : 
it was in vain for them to attempt to /peak : but 
they m^e a kind of Iham jE^r/, or Addrejsy 
yfed upon thofe occafions i being unwilling to 



CHARLES MACKLIK. I89 

leave the Stage, till they vfttt forced ,' — then — 
' the tumult ran very high. Mr. Colman faid to 
him behind the Scenes, " go on ;" he expoftu- 
latcd with him — ** What fignifies (fays Macklin) 
my going on with this noife j I cannot be heard i 
iufy if you infift upon it, I will.'* The moment 
he appeared, if the uproar could be heightened, 
jt was. As the fcenc continued, he faw jiUus in 
the Pi// Jam^sm the Pit, in xht front Row j Miles 
iathc front Row; JL^/fMnthcPit; and, hearing a 
clamour behind him, he obfcrved Clarke in 
a Box over the Stage Door ; and there were a 
great many Apples thrown upon the Stage j 
and, as he knew James, he Ifcooped down to 
him, and f^d, " Sir, will you hear me ?" Now 
what does James do upon this ? Why, upon 
that application, he, with great rage, fays, 
*' Off, offy off.*' And he and his companions 
flourifhed their flicks at him, and pointed at 
Mm, and reached at him over the Orchcftra, 
for he ftooped down over, as far as he could, 
and if he* had not made his retreat , he would 
have htttifhuck by him' He fays, * he dejired 
to know of James what they wanted ; James 
fpokc in the lame rcfcntful manner,— *^ the wo- 



190 / THE LIF£ or 

" man — the woman — I want the woman." Now 
were the whole Audience to be difturbed about 
z quarrel between James and a woman ? What 
has Macklin to do. with that ? Xhis woman. 
they could eafily have known, if it was Mrs. 
Macklin i a woman that has fhewn her face on 
the ftage ; fo that is all a pretence beyond a 
doubt : he kneeled down to get nearer y and faid> 
' I cannot diftinguifh well what you Jay y but put 
it on paper, and I will obey it, or give you an 
anfwer i or words to that effedt. Upon this, 
he applies to his aflbciates near him j a Gentle- 
man, I think Chapman y fiirnifhed him with a 
pencil and a card ; he thinks James Kd Chaf-^ 
man write, but whether he dtftated to him, 
there was fuch a noife, it was impoflible for 
him to tell. The card was given him, and is 
lofty fo the contents of it are not known, except 
when we come to Chapman^s evidence, who 
mentions what was wrote upon it : in ' ihort, it 
was that Macklin waf to ajk pardon. Upon 
reading this card, Macklin afked him upon 
what he founded his commands ? Now, here 
again, there is nothing faid about the woman ; 
no anfwer is given but '^ Offy offy down upon 



CHARLES' MACKLIN. Ijl 

yotir knees.'* You fee how abfurd this fort 
of defence is: "down upon my knees, for what ?" 
What, fuppofe it had been his wife that had 
hit him a flap on tbeface^ was Macklin to go 
upon his knees before all this oDmpany ? ' What 
had they to do with it ? He fay^^ * I inftfted I 
would not down upon my knees. The Peo- 
ple called out M/i<r^//», Macklin i ipeak to the 
Houfe i then, with his arms lifted up, in the 
manner he dejcribed^ he applied to the GaHery j 
but fliU the noiie continued : then he extended 
bimfelfm the manner he Jhewed youy and ad- 
drejfed himfe^ to Leigh and Aldus } the outrage 
was then quite in the extreme, and thty want- 
ed him to ajk pardon^ and kept up the clamour 
ftill, Offy off',' then he tells you ^ he applied 
to Miles y whofet in the firft or fecond row 
next the Orcheftra : he ftarted up and menaced 
him with his ftitky accompanied with every 
mark oi anger y and faid, " You're a Villainy 
you're a Rajcaly you're a Scoundrel \ offy off," 
then James called to him in fevere terms, " get 
*' off, pull off your dre/sy your Shy lack's dre/s." 



Ipft THE LIPS 6P 

" He fays, ' in order to conciliate thefc (?«f- 
tlemeny he went zaApuWdeffhis drefs^ and put 
on bis owh clothes, and then returned ; that then 
the outrage was great indeed. In that condi- 
tion he remainec^fome time: but, being pelt- 
ed and hit widi an ^ple in the face, which came 
from fome body in the fecond row in the P«#, 
Vfiioftooped^fttY they threw ity he took up the 
apple 3ndjhewedit to the Audience.* tie (ays, 
' ht knew the perfon who threw it ; that it was 
not one of the Defendants/ 

" Now, Gentlemen, you will hear what Clarke 
did* ' With a vwcc very diftinft, he called Offy 
■offy fend in Colman ; that he had a rail of 
the box upon which People lean, which he 
broke off, in his hands, with which he beat the 
fcenc violently ; that when he approached him 
he faid Offy affy and menaced him widi 
the rail, which was covered with a red doth ; 
he attempted to be heard ag^, but, fearing 
to incenfe him too much, he retreated/' 

" The , next thmg he remembers was Qlarke 
calling to Mr. Colman . to come on, and he 
threw a piece of paper on the Stage, and called 






to die A£tors about the Scenes to take it up^ 
One of them took it up, and carried it behind 
the Scenes: what became pf it afterwards he 
does not know< 

^'ThenBENSLEY and Woodward camconi 
and addrcfled the Audience, but what thcj faid 
he could not tell, becaufc of the noifc. He faw 
a Paper brought in by Woodward, from the 
Pit 1 he faw that Paper in the hands of MiUs -, 
one faid, he did not know whether the Paper 
was flung back a^in^ From what others have 
laid, it was handed to different people to look 
ati Miles took out a pencil and wr9te upon 
it i he faw the Paper handed about, firJl to- 
wards James y then to Aldus ^ndLeigby towards 
the middle of the Pit j then it came back to 
Miles. They all feemed to read itj Miles 
folded it up and threw it on the Stage, and 
Woodward took it up and carried it in. Thei\ 
another Aftor brought this Black Board that 
had the infcription in large white Chara&crs, 
which fccms to be the fentence they had ob- 
tained : — ^ yf/ fhe command of the PubHc, Mr. 
Macklin is difcharged from the TheatreJ' 

Vot. 11. O 



194 '^^^ ^'^^ or 

This was what they were to obtain— hot the 
woman. This board, fo exhibited, was turned 
to every part of the Houfe. Then there was 
a murmur of applaufe $ that was what they 
wanted ; but there was a clamour for Mr. Col- 
man iliH. Two or three Gentlemen came from 
the Boxes, and fsdd> 5 that the Audience was 
in great ferment, and that great damage would 
be done to the Theatre, if Mr. ColmM did ndt 
go on/ Upon which, he went in, and faid, 
' That ever fmcc he and his fellow Proprietors 
had had the dommion in that Theatre, they had 
made it their ftudy to pleafe the Public, and 
obey their Commands, as they would upon the 
prefent oceqfion/ Upon ibis there was a great 
Applaufe \ — ^he then put the queftion — ^ Is it 
your pleqfure Mr. Macklinjbould be diJchargedV 
He, the Witnefs, fays, he heard a great many 
Ayesy and he i^OM^tJome Noes. Then Mr. 
Colman faid, * Mr. Macklin is difcbarged.* 

'* Upon this there was* another applaufe. — 
Mr. Colman told the Audience ^ he had no 
oAer Play to fubftitute in its place but " She 
Stoops to Conquer y'\ which they would not ac- 



CHARLES MACKLIN. I95 

cept ; and there feems to have been an end ojf 
the bufincfs. 

*« Then there is a Lc.tter read m the Morning 
Chronicle of Itfovcmbcr aid, which he tells 
you Miles avowed ; though it is in the Newf- 
paper of the aid, the Letter is dated Novem- 
ber loth. One of the Claufes runs thus — " jis 
«^ to the part I have taken againft Mr. Macklin^ 
^* I am ready to juftify to him or his aflbciates.'* 
NoWi Gentlemen, this is an avowal of all that was 
done. " The infult offered to Mejfrs. Aldus 
*' and James was a matter of ferious confe- 
.*^ quence to the Public j no lefi than a poArivc 
^^ denial of a right hitherto held facred till dif- 
*• putcd by Macklin : it became a Queftion, and 
^* it Was of importance to decide it. I have a 
** right to deliver my opinion in a Britifh The* 
** atre, and, while I have life and vigour, I will 
** maintain that right**' You obfcrve. Gen- 
demen, here is nothing of the affair of the quar- 
rel in the Gallery— that is all a Pretence : the 
Rigbty i fuppofe, he means, is of prohibiting 
Performers or Performances, which is the lan- 
guage he held with Ma4!klin, in a converfatioii 
O2 



196 TH£ LI^£ or 

he entered into with him before the Profocii« 
tion> in order to make up matters with them -, 
fo that thefe three Letters are very ftrong evi- 
dence againft thefe Ferfons^ of their having 
fome* pre-concerted defign to prejudice the 
Profecutor with fomebody, and if they would 
join with fuch a man a$ Leigby who, beyond 
.all doubt, as you will hear prefently, has been 
confpiring to ruin this man, why they that aft 
in concert with him will involve themfelves in 
the fame crime, and muft take the confequencc 
of it. And no fmall one does it feem to me, — 
For, to have a Place, which is for the public 
recreation and amufcment of all rational peo- 
ple, turned into a fcene of riot and confulion^ 
is fhameful » and it is abfolutely a difgrace 
diat it ihould be tolerated in this country. He 
lays, then, * he was paid up by Garton to No- 
vember.' He is crofs-examinedyandjaysy ^ thai 
hi has not received awf Salary ^ nor has been per- 
mined to flay fince the iZtb of November y but 
has often Solicited it ',' and be gives you a very 
f articular inftance ofity and it muft be known by 
the Managers if it is truth or not% for he was re* 
fufed by Mr. Colman to flay for his Daughter's 



CHAHLliS MAGKLIN. IgJ 

Benefit, though he fays he would have rifqued 
every thing for it-, for he was told it woiddfre-- 
judia his Caufe > butyfaid he, " I cared not for 
*' thaty I would have rifqued every thing to have 
^^fervedmy chiW* Then he comes to a con- 
verfarion with James and JlduSy two of the De- 
fendants 5 he yf2^itdi M^OTi. Aldus y in order to 
avoid a profecution, and requefted that he and 
/the other people that he thought Delinquents, 
would apply to Mr. Colman to have him rcin- 
ttatfed. The anfwcr from Aldus was, * that 
what he had done was confiftent with the li* 
berty of an Englifliman in a Theatre, and, if he 
thought himfelf aggrieved, the Courts of Juf^ 
tice were open to him,' — Upon this, Macklin 
faid to him, * perhaps you are warm ; I will give 
you fome time to refled: on the bufinefs, and 
cool; for,, in my opinion, you have not done 
what the law 'Will fupport you in.' To this he 
faid, ^ no Managers would dare to engage him; 
and if they did, the Public would neycr fufFcr 
him to a6t after a Profecution:' — fo, in fhort, it 
is fetting up fuch a jurifdiftion over one of thcfe 
Xicenfcd Houfes, that it puts it out of the 

03 



I9t 'I'HE LIFE or 

Managers' power to do ^atthey would i and 
it deters people^ of any fort of decency, and 
who pay regard to their perfons, from going, 
to places of this fort> while fuch irregularities 
and confufionare tolerated. — He left him, fay- 
ing, ' he hoped he would refled upon it,' and 
promifed that he would call upon him ag^ : 
he did not care to- call upon him again, but 
wrote him a letter. Then he comes to his 
converfation with JameSy which was after the 
1 8th of November, and near December: it 
was at jAM£is's lodgings. They were alone 
fome part of the time, and Ibmc. part of the 
time Mrs. James Was with them. The con- 
verfation was nearly fimilar to the converfa-' 
tipn with the other Gentleman i but he adds 
this particular — ' that James did infill upon a 
right to prohibit Performances or Performers 
in a Theatre i not any thing about the woman; 
* that \( Macklin was aggrieved, he might take 
his remedy, and that he would anfwer him at 
any time' — ^and a difpute about the right o{ 
hiding was agitated fome time: — they were a 
confiderable time together. Before this Pro- 
fecution, he like wife fcnt to Leigh y the Taylor; 



CHA&]LK$ MACKhlK. 299 

buta$ thatwa$ anembafiy^ and he was not 
there himfelf, he could ^ve no account of 
that, — therefore I Hopped him. 

'^ Upon another crofs-examipation, he fays> 
' that there h^ been inveftiyes thrown oiifi 
agaidt him before hi^firft Peiibrmance, but 
nothing like what he met with a&er :^-he ha4. 
he^d of KedMfli and Sparks having hifled hiqi 
upon the 30th of OAober, and had charged 
them with it in the Playhoufc. Two Affi- 
davits had been in the Newfpapers, figned with 
their Names, but he did not charge them with 
perjury in the Paper \ but his anfwer was, that 
he did not intend troubling the Audience with 
apy proofs i but, if they dcnjanded them, they 
ihouldhaye them;'-— that was whathe faid upon 
the occafion. Now, this talking about the 
affair of Sparics andRsooisH, as if this was 
upon account of that quarrel, is all like the 
talking about the quarrel with the woman in 
&e Gallery; it has nothing to do with this:-^ 
here is a fettled, abfolute refolution to have 
this man prohibited as a Performer, carried ii| 
O4 



ftOO THE LIFE OP 

concert into execution, by a variety of people} 
and therefore, their confpiracy, and their unit- 
ing to obtain that^ is to be evidenced by the 
afts they do at that one time, and by the whole 
complexion of the cafe, as taken together that 
nighty at the Playhoufc. * He was, he fays, 
advifed) likewife, not t0 go upon the Stage on 
the joth-^he aflccd Mr. Younger if he knew 
where the Manager was ; he faid at home, he 
believed, but he did not know; and he defired 
him to go to the Manager, as he was afraid of 
being infulted: — he faid the time was toofliort, 
fo he did go upon the Stage.' This was upon 
the 30th — we may pafs that over. — He fpoke 
to his privilege of giving orders, — for what ? 
not for pcrfons to hifs and abufc himfclf— if 
any orders were given, they were to his friends 
to goto the Theatre, either to oppofc, by 
force, or to look (harp out who the people 
were, that were infulting and ufing him ill. 
As Mr. Dunning faid, I fhould have thought it 
a very prudent thing; ^ I am attacked by thefc 
people ; my bread is at ftake \ and do you, my 
friend, fit in fuch a corner of the Houfe, and 
you in another;' for as they ranged themfclye^ 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 20I 

in different parts of the Houfc, to appear the 
v<»ce of the whole Houfc, thefe people might 
have had their eyes about them, to fee who the 
people were that fo infiilted him, 

** I do not fee that any thing arifes upon the 
crofs^examination for ^ames, Miles, or Clarke, 
that is material to the prefent cafe. Now, 
about tracing after the woman':-— his name was 
upon the door:— he is alked,whcther he pledged 
himfelf to give proofs of Reddijh and Sparks 
hifling him :— he gave die anfwcr that he did be- 
fore: — he faid, ^ that their behaviour was very 
unbecoming Aftors ; and, if he had time given 
him, it would be proved :' — that was all he faid 
as to that. As to Clarke, ^ he thinks, that he 
^id not leave the Houfe till Mr. Colman came 
on ; but, as to that, he will not fwear to it.* He 
faw him in the Box, and faw him do thefe 
things ; therefore, what time he left it is to- 
taUy inimaterial. ' He met him behind the 
Scenes afterwiirds, he thinks, but is not fure, 
and did not know whether he was behind the 
Scenes before Mr. Colman went on or no.* — 
This is the evidence Mr. Macklin ha$ given. 



a02 THB l«IFX OF 

^' William Jowis iscallcdi who ttjik jpon, 
^ that he was at the Antelope Alehoufe> inWhifir 
Horfc Yard, Drury-Laoc, where he faw Leigk 
upon the 17th November^ in the afternoon, 
about four or five o'clock i and there were five 
or fix more people there/ He fays, * he is an 
hofier. Leigb aiked him| and the refl:» if they 
would go to the Play the next night:, they 
aiked upon what ternary for they could not af<t 
ford it : he faid, he would treat them alii or a;^ 
many as would go : they were to meet at the 
Bedford-Head Tavern, and there to inquire 
(or X.eigh's room; and if this Witnefs could fend 
fome friends in Uic City, he would pay for all 
them like wife. Their bufinefs was to go and 
fupport him, againfl Macklin, ^ I^b told 
him the next mbrping,* — This n>an went into 
the City, he s^cd fome friends, and gave them 
diredions to call for a room and wine— they 
had 3s. a piece given, them, at the Antelope, tp^ 
go into the Pit. 

" As they were going tQ the Bedford-Head, 
they met Leighy in Taviftock-Strcet, who faid 
* he was going to the Antelope to bring fonjc 



CHAALSS MACKtIN. aOJ 

more Gcndcmcn/ They went to the Bedford* 
Heady and met eight or ten there<<-*he did not 
count theoij but fpeaks within compafs^-^then 
Sparks produced a Paper he meant to read in 
the Pit : they met another Gentleman going 
down ftairs — they all went to the Playhoufc in 
Co vent-Garden. Leigh faid he would pay him 
next day, not having filver ; but he few him 
give money to eight or ten, to pay for their ad- 
miffioni and as Leigh went out, he feidhe would 
pay the reckoning when he came again. The 
converfetion with Leigh was, that Macklin had 
offended Sparks^ Leigh's brother-in-law. When 
they were in the Theatre, he cdled for Mack- 
Jin feveral times, and behaved in a very riotous 
manner, and bid Macklin go down upon his 
knees. — This Witnefs few the Paper handed 
from the Stage, and few it in feveral hands ; 
fo that he confirms Macklin' s evidence, though 
he does not know the hands into which it went, 
but he few that Paper that was handed from the 
Stage in feveral hands, and a Gentleman, that 
they catted Mdusy came over the Boxes into 
the Pit : that is not a very proper way I be- 
lieve of coming into the Pit. He few a Paper 



204 '^^^ ^''^ ^^ 

coming from a Gentleman, that waved a red 
board up in the Box over the Stage, but he 
did not know who ht was. Then he fays, 

* Macilin defircd him to go to Leigh," to fee if 
he would bring Macklin upon the Stage againj' 
that Leigh faid, * if he would beg his brother- 
in-law's pardon, he would endeavour to get 
him upon the Stage again, not elfe : that, till 
Macklin afked pardon of his brother, he fliould 
not play upon an Englifh Stage again.* He 
fays, * he does not keep a fhop now, and fays, 
that Leigbizx in the Pit, upon the right-hand.' 

*^ William Burke is the next witnefs. He fays, 

* that between the hours of five and fcvcnin the 
afternoon of the 17th of November, he was at 
Mr. Renoe*s\io\xi^, in Great Suffolk Street:' he 
fpeaks of a converfation that paflfcd with Renoi 
and the Defendant Leigh. 

*^ Leigh invited them to attend upon him to 
Covent-Garden Playhoufe, to hifs, confute, and 
crufh into the earth, a Villain and a Murderer^, 
who had murdered a man about a wig, which 
he explained to be Macklin ,- that thcfe peopk 



CHARLES MACKI-IK* SIO^ 

faid they would oblige him upon any occafion 
that was approvable> but would not go upon 
iuch a bufinefs as that. Leigh faid they Ihould 
be at no cxpence— he had got fcveral other 
people^ that .he had prepared, that would be 
.in the Pit ; that he had hired forty hardy fel- 
lows, which they would have in the upper part 
of the Houfe ; and, to complete his dcfign, he 
further obfervcd, that he would prevent Mack^ 
lm*s performing upon any Stage in England.' — ^ 
The Witnefs fays, ' he is now a Gentleman's 
Servant : he was out of place at the time he 
fpeaks of, and lodged in Charlotte-Street ; and 
he fays he has not fcen Leigh fince he wa^ at 

" Mr. Renoe, the father, fays, ' that Leigh 
^called upon him one night — he did not fee 
Burke there then-— that Leigh alkcd his fon and 
him to go to the Play ; that Macklin had af- 
fronted his wife^ and fome young Gentleman j 
that Leigh and his Company were to go and 
hifs Macklin.' Now if they went only with an 
intention to hifs, and carry that on further, 
theyarcguilty of the whole that the Witqcft fay^- 



^o6 THE LIFE or 

I undcrftood it was to prcvcfit this man's per* 
forming.' His fon, he fays, told him ^ Burke 
was in the paffage/ What his fon told him is 
not evidence : that is only to (hew you that It 
is not an invention of Burke, but that he was 
at that place. They faid, ' they would not go 
to the Play upon any fuch purpofc as Leigh 
propofed/ 

" Samul Conno was invited at the Antelope. 
Leigh declared that he had a great antipathy 
to Macklin ; he underftood that he was to go 
to hifs him 5 he was to be paid three (hillings by 
Leighy who had told the Company, that who- 
ever chofe to go, it fhould not coft them an 
halfpenny. Leigh invited his friends to meet 
him upon the i8tii, at four in the afternoon. 
Upon the 17th he gave a general invitation to 
thfi Company $ he was one that was to go, but 
he did not like it. Upon the 18th, in the af- 
ternoon, he folicited the Company prefcnt 
i^n to go to the Bedford<-Head. ' I did not 
chufe to go to hifs a man that I did not know, 
nor that ever injured me: — he was very pref- 
&ng s !> did go with him, and he put three 



CHARL£S MACKtIN. ^ 107 

fliillings into riiy hand, to pay for my admif- 
fion.* When he cAme to the Bedford-Head, 
th<ry met the Gentlemen coming down ftairs* 
Leigh^ faid to the Mafter of the Houfe, ' I will 
pay the reckoning when I come back' — This 
man was in the Pit- Leigb faid, in the Play- 
houfe, and before he went to it, ' that Macklin 
fhould go down upon his knees, and beg his 
brother's pardon, or not perform/ When the 
Cuftatn was drawn up, there was a general cry 
• Q^ off" — calling for Macklin — there 1;^s a 
prodigious confufion in the Houfe, fo that 
Macklin could not be heard, nor any one elfe. 
A Gentlenian, called Aldus, came through the 
Boxes into the Pit, but the Witnefs does not 
know him. He gives you the fame account of 
the bl»:k board as the other Witnefs. He 
fays, * it was entirely owing to Leigh and hk 
friends, he wa^ fure it was, that this Play was 
not permitted to go on.' He fays * he has known 
Leigh muty years.' He fays ' he did hifs in the 
Playhoufe, he thought it improper, and was 
afliamed of it.' 



208 ^ > THE tIFE Of 

** Edward Timperon fays, ' Leigh a{>plied td 
him on 1 8 th of November, to go to the Play, and 
he would treat him* He refufcd, ^or he under- 
ftood he was going to hifs Macklin. Leigh had 
talked of it the night before, and the whole 
Coinpany prefcnt knew it, that he would make 
his promife good to Sparks^ 

" John Archer is the next Witnels. He is 
Foreman to Leigh \ he was at the Apple-Tree^ 
inWhite-HorfeYard, DruryLanc. He went 
to get ten or a dozen men to go to the Play 
to hifs Macklin. Leigh paid for their going* 
He got eight or nine, at a Beer-Cellar in 
Suffolk-Street, and went with them to the Play. 

" William Lomdon fays he was at the Beer- 
Cellar, and had four pints of beer there. This 
Witnefs was in the Gallery. Leigh gave them 
a fhilling a piece. When Macklin appeared 
upon the Stage, they were to hife him, or to 
make him afk the Public's pardon, for Leigh 
faid he fliould be there himfelf with more 
Gentlemen, and there would be a fignal given 
by a whittle. Accordingly, this man went with 



CHARLES MACKLIir. 200 

fcyen or eight more into the Upper Gallery j 
he heard the whiftle, but who gave it he does 
not know ; there was a great noife and diftur- 
bance. He went with Archer^ Leigh's fore- 
man I he faw a Gentleman have a bench in his 
right hand, in the Box over the Stage, about 
fix inches broad. 

** Francis Legraviere was fent by Leigh to 
get men to hifs Macklin. From the Phoenix 
he brought four ; he invited all that chofe to 
come ; and there were a great many in Suffolk- 
Street, how many he cannot tell, but Archer . 
wis there \ he went to the Upper Gallery in the 
Playhoufe. Leigh paid the money for admif- 
fion. He faid he did not want to bring them to 
any hurt, only an affront had been given to his 
Brother-in-law, and he wanted Macklin to aflc 
his Brother's pardon ; if he did not do that, then 
they were to hifs and make, a noife in the Upper 
Gallery. 

*' Kevenhuller Skinner fays ' he went to the Two 

Shilling Gallery i he was about three or four 
Vot. IL P 



Benches from the bottom, upon the right fide j 
he faw that part of the Bench covcltfd with 
fcarlet cloth waved about, and a papef htoded 
to the Pit, and thrown back, and he faw a pa- 
per dropped from the Box, blit he . did not 
know by whom.* 

" Thefe circumftances are to confirm the 
fafts that Macklin fpeaks to, that fuch thihgs 
did pafs. 

** Thomas EvanstdLys 'he was atthePky oHfte 
1 8 th of November i he knows Afi/^i, he handed 
the paper from the Stage to Miles j Miks fakl 
that Macklin fhould be difcharged s that that w^^ 
what he had wrote upon it j but, to the beft of 
his r^colle&ion, it was thrown upon the Stage 
immediately after he wrote upon it. He faw 
yames in the Pit, and faw Clarke in the Bo» 
over the Stage ;.' then 

Ralph Lodge is examined ; he was there, ami 
faw Aldus come into the Pit over the Boxes 
with fome applaufe j there was a general nOile 
all the time of one kind or other ; Aldus hc^ 



fdfs was noify^ but not adive with bis fifts ; and 
he faw a paper go through the hands of feversd 
in the Pit 1 he fays he went co fee the entef-- 
tabment of the Play ; he expe£bed there wouid 
be fomething of this fort^ and went out of cu^ 
riofity. 

^^ Tifimas Evahs is called again i he fays ^ he faW 
Macklin BddrcU himfelf to Jam^si what he laid 
he could not tell* Miles was exceedingly vio- 
lent i he leaped upon the bench behind him, 
and prcffed hard^pon him. The Witne£s in-* 
filled upon his fitting down^ and faid, ^^ diough 
he had a quarrel with MackltUy he had no right 
to incommode him ;" that he made an apology 
and fat down ; that foon after he was up again/ 
He fays, ' the way he came to know him, was 
by his being pointed at, and his name men- 
ttioned when he came out/ 

<' Ift^arh Chapman fays ' he wrote a paper* at 
Macklin's defire, to know what the Gentlemen 
i«quefted of him, which paper was given uy 
Mr, Mackiiny and he law it no more/ 
P« 



1 



112 THB LITZ OF 

^^ Robert Benfley is an Aftor : he was dcfired 
by Mr. Colman to go jupon the St^e to know 
their demand \ he could only generally under^ 
ftand> (hat the requifition of the Pit was that 
Macklin be difcharged \ he went back and told 
Mr. Colman of it ; he and Macklin afked whofc 
requeft it was ? he faid ' all the Pit — he could 
not tell who— there was a great clamour^ that 
clamour continued a great while ;' he was de- 
fired to go again; he aiked ' whether the general 
voice was that Mr. Macklin fhduld be dif- 
charged ?— ;/5?r, V)hat the geti/sral requeft of tbe 
Public was, tbe Managers would comply with.' 
Then there was a loud cry for Mr. Colman ; he 
faid he told them they might take his word, it 
was Mr. Colman" s opinion. In the Box over the 
Stage-door, he fays, he faw Clarke, and he was 
very violent, calling * Colman, Colman, Colman,* 
and threw down that Note to him, tbefubflance 
ofwbicb was to dejire Mr. Colman to come upon 
tbe Stage to 4:o^firm wbat tbis Witnefs /aid ; he 
gave the Note to Mr. Colman i the Witnefa 
fays he never came upon the Stage afterwards, 
but there was an univerfal noife and clamour. 



CHARLES MACKLIN. ^ij 

*' Gentlemen, 
" This is all the Evidence that has been 
given upon this occafion j in going through it, 
I have ftated many parts of it that refpeft each 
particular Party. 

*' As to Aldus i you fee he is proved to be 
the Author of the Letters I have read to you : 
he came out of the front Box into the Pit, and* 
i(fas received with applaufc ; he was cUftin- 
guifhed by Macklin in the Pit i he pointed to 
him and Leigh ; there they were together ; they 
wanted him to afk pardon, and kept the cla- 
mour ' Offy offy off I — the paper was handed 
in the Pit to Aldus and Leigby and came back 
to Miles. Aldus faid, when Macklin went to 
him, ' that he had done^ what was confiftent 
with the liberty of an Englifliman in a The- 
atre \ that he might go to law i and, if he did, 
he Ihould never aft again upon an Englilh 
Stage/ Aldus was very noify, though not 
aftivc ; — that you fee is the Charge upon Aldus. 

^* The next is Clarke / he was in the Box 
upon the right hand fide i he was received with 
P3 



ai4* TUB LIFl OF 

applaufe> as Jldus was j his voice wa$ cUfttnft } 
he wa^ calling out, ' 0^ off^ CBlman^ CoUntmy 
and beatii^ the Scene viokntly ; — when Mack- 
lin lipproached^ he menaced hitn with a rail i-^ 
he called to Colman to come on^ and threw the 
Papers upon the Stage j— that is Macklin^s 
evidence. Then 7<^»^^ proved there was fuch a 
inw waving a board> who threw a Paper upoa 
the Sta^t Sikinner confirms it, that the Bench 
covered 'mth Icarlet cloth was waved by ^ ma^ 
there, and the P^er was dropped. Bet^ 
(ays he was very violent, and threw down the 
Note upon the $tage ;— fo that maJkes him a 
Party. 

^' The Letter of William Jams is likewift 
proved, which is read to you, where he infifts 
upon the power of a Gcndcman in a Theatre, 
JWi?rM« applied to him, and ftid, 'Sir, wiU 
you hear me ?' Upon which, in a great rage, 
this man flouriihed his ftick at him, and (aid 
^ Go off,' and called for ' the Woman, the wo- 
man / and then Macklin faid, ' put \% on paper, . 
and I will obey it, or anfwer you i' that the re- 
queft was tp afk pardon ; that he a&ed hin^ 



CHARLES MACKXIN. 2X^ 

\ipoj$ what ht fouodcd his commw4 ;-«->'no 
words, but * O/, ^/^pull off your drpi^i ypw 
ShyiQcVs dppfe/ This man woald HQt kff^^ 
4ow?i p them^ and he was much in the rightt 
Q£\t I ap^d hie faid, ^ you have no ng;ht to a& « 

^^ }lcipe6tiQg il///^j, he mei«jC«4 ^\xh hfe 
Hick, and ftartf d up fnom jdbe fiiA liow^ ac^ 
comfamed with emery mark of aii^r, and cdjed 
out ' hoary VittsiQ* hoary Rafcal/ hoary Scouor 
duel, Q^ <?jf/ fFfi94m$rd pccfiwtrd a Faf)ef 
to the Pit, which Miles perufed, andvfhich was 
handed to Jam^Sy Aldus ^ and Leigb^ and came 
hAck tQ Miks I then Mflps fojided it up^ and 
threw it on Ae Sitage» and JV^pdv^arS m>k it 
vp, and 'Carried it away> Mto ayiowod ri*e 
Letter, which he wrote. This is confirixied by 
Evans j^ who fays Mile^ was violent— the Paper 
wa^ iiandicd to AG&j--tye took it, and wrote 
upon it, and threw it upon the Sta^ \ and Joms 
fays it was haqded about, and he faw it in fe-^ 
yen^ ha^ds. 

P4 



ai6 THE LIFE OF 

'* It is unncccflary to ftatc any more with re- 
lation to Leighj bccaufc that is fo ftrong and 
notorious. If you are of opinion that thcfe 
people are guilty only of a Riot, which their 
Counfel cannot help acknowledging, then you 
will find them not guilty of the firft Count, but 
of all the reft. But if, from the Evidence of 
this violent and outrageous conduft, you are of 
opinion, that they did all aft in confederacy 
againft this man, to have him turned off* the 
Stage, and thereby obtained this fentence-<-*if 
you believe that, you will find them guilty of die 
whole Information." 

The Vcrdiftbfthe Jury was, that Clarke 
was guilty of a Riot only— and they found the 
reft of the Defendants guilty of the whole In- 
fomuition. 

This important bufineis is concluded m the 
fttcceeding Chapter* 



CHARLES MACRLIN. 21^ 



Cljap. viL 

" TNtiib Kino's Bench. 

« Tburfdayy May lUb, 1775. 
** The King j^ainft JUigb, Aldus^ and others. 

*^ Mr. Cowper. — My Lord, I move the 
Court for Judgment in the Caule of the King 
againft Thomas Leigh and others. 

" Mr. Justice Aston made his Report of 
the Evidence upon the Trial of the Caufe, after 
which the proceedings were thefe : 

*' Mr. Howarth. — My Lord, I was of Coun- 
fel for Mr. Miles, at the time of the Trial, and 
I have learned, fince Mr. Juftice Afton began his 
Report, that Mr. Miles does not attend the 
Court to^rj^ceive judgment \ he is a Purfcr of a 
Ship, and is neceiTanly attending his duty at; 
Chatham. 



tit THE hjfx or 

" L^rd Mansfield. — Call the others^ thatwc 
may fee who does attend, 

^ej are called over^ 

*' Lord Mansfield.'^'' 'They are all here except 
Milesy then : does he appear by Counfel ? 

** Mr. Hmartb. — .No, I have no Inftnic- 
tions ; I juft learned the circumftancc tacc the 
Kcport began. 

" Mr^ Dunning.^"'-! hope he does not meaq 
to give the Court the trouble of go yig through 
^ whole ftory another day. 

** Mr^ Howarth. — .1 dare fay he would have 
attended here^ if he had known this was the 



" Lord Mansfield. — They gave notice to his 
^^gent, I fuppofc. 

" Mr. Jufiice AJim.-r-'My firft Notice wa* 
from the Defendants, to bring down the Re« 



port, aiflfi there was no diftin&ion, but the X>^^ 
fendants-^ 

" Lord Mansfietdn — Who is wnccrnctJ for 
the Defendants ? Arc they the lame Attomics ? 

*^ A Gentleman^ — No, my Lord, different 
Attornies. 

^^ Mr. Cawper.'—Mr, Blah gave notice for 
Leigh and Miles. 

" Mr. jMfiice Afton. — There was no diftinc-» 
tioa in (he notice. 

^* Mr. Blake.— ^Oy there was not, 

*' Mr. Juftice Afion. — I have ftated what wa* 
charged againft every man diftin<3:ly pi(;ked out, 
that I read to the Jury* 

^' Mr. Cowper."-"! am, upon this occafionj^ of 
Counfel for the Defendant Thomas Leigb^ 
At the time Mr. Dunning opened the circum^ 
ftances of this Caufe to the Jury, upon th^ 



^20 THE LIFE OP 

trial of the Information, he ftatcd, and I am 
fure he then thought as a faft, and what I 
hope is now the fad, that the Information 
was not profccuted with any vindiftive views, 
but for the purpofe of doing juftice to Mr. 
Mackliny and of putting him in that fort 
of fituation, that he was in before j but if that 
could not be done, that fome reparation might 
be made to him for the injury he has fuftained. 
Before I make any obfervations on the conduft 
of Mr. Leigh y upon this occafion, I have to fay 
for him, that he is extremely forry for what he 
has done i he is extremely forry for the con- 
fequences that have happened to Mr. Macklin ; 
and that he will, to the utmoft of his power, 
and the very ftretch of his circumftances, if the 
Court think it proper to permit him to make 
any amends, that he poflibly can, in any way 
that he can, or in any way that Mr. Macklin can 
require. — If that propofal is accepted, I hope it 
may fave the Court the trouble of pafling 
Judgment upon Mr. Leigh. If the Court fhall 
think that a fatisfaftion to the Profecutor is a 
proper thing to be donq upon this occafion, 
'Mr. Leigh, though he i§ inclined, to the very 



CHARLES MAGKLIN. 221 

extent of his powcl-, to make that fatisfadion^ 
is in this awkward fituation; that he is unac- 
quainted with the reft of the Defendants. No 
fet of men were greater ftrangers to one ano- 
ther, than thefe feveral Defendants are. It i& 
moft certainly foj and the misfortune of Mr. 
Leigh iSi that he does not know how to pbtain 
the concurrence of the other Defendants with 
regard to making Mr. Macklin fatisfaftion. 
But, to the utmoft of his power, in any way 
that the Court think proper, or in any way 
that Mr. Macklin can be prevailed upon to 
accept, Mr. Leigh is ready to make reparation* 

" Mr. Mansfield. — I am of Counfel for 
Mr. Clarke^ with regard to whom, your Lord- 
fliip fees, that the Jury, in their fenfe of the 
matter, ,made a diftinftion. Your Lordlhip ' 
fees what the conduft of Mr. Clarke was. 
The Jury have exprefled their fenfe, that Mr. 
Clarke did ftot aft in concert with any body 
clfe — he came into the Box over the Stage- 
door — there he made a noife— he took up a 
piece of fomething that lay before him — a 
loofe piece of board with red cloth, and threw 



12a THX tIF£ Of 

a Note upon the Stage> ud called out for Cot^ 
man, whom he was defirous of having upon 
the Stage $ and Macklin f^d^ he fawhim after^ 
wards^ he thought^ behind the Scenes* He is 
certainly guilty of having fo done^ when this 
riot was going forward; btit he had no kind of 
concert with any human creature, nor ever 
dreamed of it ; he had never fpoken with any 
of the men now appearing before your Lord- 
fiiip. Being at the Theatre at the time, he 
did as the Jury have faid he did— he certsdnly 
behaved indecently and noifily, and did that 
which a prudent man fhould not have ddne— 
and if he had afked advice, whether he fhould 
have concurred in it, when all the Houfe was 
in that violent uproar^- he would have been 
told he fhould not. He is pcrfeftly free from 
that which is the great charge in this bufinefs. 

^^'Lord Mansfield. "^AAc waa not in the pre- 
concert-r-He fees a number of people aHjoin*^ 
ii^ upon one, and joins them to knock him 
upon the head, without any preconcert— and 
he beat the Box and Scene, wd csdled for Cd^ 



CHAHLES MACKLIM. llj 

man, . and infifted upon Macklin's being dil^ 
^harged^ as ^ell as the reft. 

" ikfK Mansfield. — There is nothing, as I 
recoUea, faid about Clarke infifting tipon his 
being difcharged. 

*^ Mr. Dunning. — Clarke called out fli«: 
Colman muft come forward and confirm what 
had been faid. 

** Mr. Mansfield.**^Thtrt was not a word 
about difcharge. 

" Lord Mansfield. — What was C^maH 
wanted for, but to confirm what Benjley hdd 
faid. 

** Mr. JufticeAfion. — They wanted the de=- 
finitive fentence againft Macklin, and for a 
complaint about Macklin*s Wife.— Why (hould 
ihat produce fuch a quarrel as this in the Play- 
houfe ? Why Ihould MacHin's a6tmg Skyhtk 
and Sif Arcby Macfartajmy which they all 
agreed he performed very well, produce « 



1 



104 ^^^ ^'^^ o^ 

tiot? — Bccaufe he offended them in ading 
Macbetbj they would not let him plav the Part 
that he is confefledly very capable of. 

'^ Mr. Mansfield. — I am only ftadng to your 
Lordfliip what was the part that Clarke afted. 
He was very far from having any idea of meet- 
ing there, in concert, with people who were 
to ruin Mr. Macklin. He is now ready to 
fubmit to the Judgment of the Court. 

'^ Mr. C(9A^.---I am of Counfelupon the lame 
fide, I will only lubmit to your Lordfhip one 
obfervation^ that he did not fpeak to any of 
the Parties. 

*' Lord Mansfield. — That is a good realbn for 
the Jury*s not finding him in the Confpiracy, 
but in executing all that the Confpirators came 
there to execute 

•* Mr. Bearcroft. — I am concerned for Mr. 
James. I have an Affidavit in my hand now 
to aim again at that which always has been 
aimed at before the Trial, and before the Vcr- 



r 



CHARLES MACKLIN. I25 

did, I mean to fey, that Mr. James has aK 
ways been ready to do what Mr. Cowper, upon 
the part o£Mn Leigh, wiflies fliould be done, 
to ftretch to the utmoft of his power what he 
can to make Mr. Macklin a fatisfadtion, and to 
reftore him to the favour of the Public as far 
as he can.* 

''Any perfon, who has attended to this bu- 
finefsj^ muft be extremely forry for what has 
happened, and wifh it may be undone, as much 
as. it can be undone, upon the part of Mn 
James. — He is a perfon of a fmall fortune, and 
with a large family. — A certain offer was made 
to which he was a party.— 

" Lord Mottsjield.—Ax "what time ? 

«' Mr. Bearcroft. — Before the Vcrdid. 

« Lord Mansfield.— At the Trial ? 

" Mr. Bear croft. -T-Ycs, my Lord. 

Vol. II. . CL 



226 THE LIFE OF 

" Lord Mansfield. — Was there any offer 
made before ^y expence towards the Trial ? 

^^ Mr. Bearcrofi. — I don*t know how that 
was. 

Lord Mansfield."'-Btc3i\j{Cj it occurs to me, 
that, when the Rule was made abfolute, when 
many of the fafts were difclofed, that came 
out upon the Trial fo ftrongly, I did, in the 
moft urgent manner, recommend to the De- 
fendants, that they ihould make a fatisfaftion 
to Mr. Macklin for the injury, the monftrous 
injufticc that they had done him^ and that they 
would rather add, to the fatisfaftion made to 
him, the expences which the Trial would put 
them all to, and avoid the expence of a Trial : 
A|id I Ihould be glad to know, whether any 
thing was done, in confequence of that : for here 
they put both fides, to what jnighthave been, 
perhaps, a third or fourth of the fatisfedion. 

** Mr. Bear croft. —A will tell your Lordfhip 
what I know of the matter. I cannot ftatc 
particular fafts of particular offers s but long 



CHARLES MACJCtlN. Q,2J 

before the Trial, I fuggeftcd that fomc thing 
of that fort was the fit thing to be done. 
When I fo fuggeftcd it to the Solicitor con- 
cerned for Mr. Janies^ he agreed with me en- 
tirely about it ; but the anfwer that I received, 
from time to time, was, ^ that there was no 
talking to Mr. Macklin : he would not hearken 
I to any propofition of that kind •/ and I verily 

believe myfelf that was the rcafon a propofal 
was not made. 

" Mr. Leigh.-'A met him at the Tavern. 
He brought Mr. Jones with him. I defired 
Mr. Janes to go out of the room : for, what I 
was going to fay to Mr. Macklin^ I did not. 
chufe to have Witneffes to. * As I was in the 
fcrapc, I faid, if I had brought thirty or 
forty people to put him off the Stage, I was 
ready to bring four hundred to put him on 
again.' This was juft after the Rule was made 
abfolute, after I returned from Ireland. He ' 
. then replied to me — ^ I know who is at the 
bottom, and, if you give upthcim, I will do 
it.* I faid — ^Sir, I know your meaning; it 
is Mu Garrick you allude to s I never fpokc 



11% THE LIFI OF 

to him in my life. It was put in Letters in titc 
Ncwlpaper that my wife was in company with 
a party of whores, in the Gallery, to hifs you — ' 
and he pledged himfelf to the Public to prove 
my brother-in-law perjured ; which exafperat- 
cd me very much. Before I began this, I fent 
my wife to Mr. Macklin, to tell him that the 
confequences might be fatal to us aU ; and, if 
he woukl iuffer me to wait upon him, I would 
tellhimthereafonhow the infinuationcame. Mr^ 
Macklin fent an anfwer that he wouldnot fee Mrs. 
Leigh, nor me, nor none of the family, for they 
might all be d-««— d. That is all that I know. 
I fmce that fent a Gentleman to him, rather 
than I would be fent to prifon, or be rumed b 
my bufinels, which I mufl be if I am confined, 
and injured in my health. I fent him twoliun- 
dred pounds. He faid it was not fufficicntj 
and I am ready to make oath that it is fuffi- 
cient for me, without ruining myfelf, and be- 
coming a Bankrupt. Here is an Affidavit that 
I piade in Court>^ that I never faw thefc Gen- 
tlemen tin I faw them 4t the Playhpirfc. 



CHARLES MACKLIN, 22^ 

^' Mr. Wallace. --^Ax. may be highly proper 
for the parties to meet together, if a fatisfac- 
tion is made> and to advance according to their 
abilities; for though their guilt may be diffe- 
rent, their abilities arc alfo very different, and 
fome muft contribute much more than others 
perhaps that are more guilty ^ 

^' Lord Mansfield. — ^They are all liable to be 
lurc-^will you refer it to the Matter ? You con- 
fider, in this cafe, that this is a confpiracy ab- 
folutely to Vuin a man ; to take his bread from 
him ; for he is difcharged. And I remember, 
upon the motion, that he was under Articles 
with Mr* Caiman^ and the other Managers, at 
the rate of 4Q0L a year — then a benefit—of 
what ? 

** Mr. Murphy^ 230!. 

*' Lord Mansfield. — Then he ha3 bcea 
driven off the Stage two years 5 there is 1260I. 
befides implied damages; and this, in the 
fight of the Public, is a very heinous offence : 
For^ as I took care to fay before y to be fun every 

Q 3 



tJO THE LIFE or 

^OH that is at the Tlayhoujey has a right to tx- 
frefs his approbation or dijapprohation instan- 
taneously, according as he likes either the 
aSlingy or Piece — that is a right due to the The^ 
atre—an unalterable right— -ihey muft have 
that. — The gift of the crime here is y coming by 
con/piracyy to ruin a particular man— to hijsj 
if they were ever fo pleajed—let him do ever Jo 
welly they were to knock him dozvn^ and bijs 
him off the Stage. They did not come to approve 
or diJapprovCy as the Jentiments of their mind 
might bey but they came with a black defigny and 
that is the moft ungenerous thing that can be. 
What a terrible condition is an AStor upon the 
Stage in with an Enemy y who makes part of the 
Audience ! It is ungenerous to take the advan- 
tage i and what makes the black part of the cafe 
is — it is all done with a conjpiracy to ruin him : 
and if the Court were tv imprijon and fine every 
one of^themy Mr. Macklin may bring his affion 
againft them, and I am/atisfied there is no Jury 
that would not give confiderable damages ; but it 
is better for both fides to refer them to the Maftery 
and I fhall direSt him to make a liberal fatis- 
faSfion. 



CHARLES MACKtIN. 23 I 

^^Mr. Dunmng.T-'-Mr. Mackliny from the 
beginning, had but one objeft, and that was 
very diftinftly ftated, and perfedtly underftood 
by the Parties who wer.c intcrefted in it. When 
we cjune here for confidcration,. whether the 
Rule fhould or not be made abfolute— it not 
only was thrown out from the Bar, but re- 
commended from the Bench. The Court did 
recommend, that the money which thefe Gen- 
tlemen would Ipend, in the courfe of the de- 
fence, would be much better given to the man 
who had been injured.— It was true, and true to 
that degree, that the very outfet of their offer, 
which has been hinted at, at the time of the 
Trial, fell Ihort of the a6tual expence that he 
had incurred, inprofecuting it to that pitch : — 
fo that now Mr. Macklin ftands in the predi- 
cament of having totally loft two years profit, 
which is very moderately eftimated at 6oo\* a 
year; for, I believe, the fenfe that other people 
entertained of his theatrical merit, would have 
made his benefit more than he has ftated it to 
be. And his eftimate is a very moderate one, 
when he ftates the amount of his loffes to be 
aftually 1200I. And the idea was, as Mr. 
0.4 



2J1 TH« LIFE or 

Co%vper truly ftates it^ as expreflcd by me to 
be the view of that proiecution—- it produced 
nothing but that which I have now ftated^ — an 
offer to .do much \t& than to reimburfe him the 
expence that he had been at. From that mo- 
ment to this^ I am yet to learn — if any thing 
like an o&f has been made to il^. MackUMj^ 
except ibme intimation that has been given, 
that one of thefe Gcndemen, Mr. Leigby per- 
haps, was in a humour to do fomethii^ :— the 
reft confidering themfelves as having nothing 
to do for themfelves, or each other, Mr^ 
Macklin ftands in a very unfortunate fituation i 
and fuch as will not only entide him to the pro- 
tection of the Court, but recommend him to 
the companion of every man of feeling, at his 
advanced ftage of life. His condition, if thefe 
Gendcmen perfift in their purpofe, is irre- 
trievable ruin ; and they fay, as appears from 
the report, that, whatever the Court may do, 
yet the public are never to fuffer Mr. Macklin 
to return to the Stage. If thefe Gentlenicn 
will defy the Court to do what it c^ do, I dare 
fay that the Court will do all they can do, 



CHARLES MACKtIN. ajj 

with propriety, in order toproteft Mr. Msck^ 
Hn from the confequences of this threat* 

" In Mr. Mackiin's fituation, I am fure the 
Court wiU z€t with peculiar compaffion and 
lenity towards him, in promoting this Caufe to 
be put an end to, in the way the Gentlemea 
wiih. Upon the part of Mr^ MackUny he muft 
wifh it, and fully wifh it. Mr. Mdnsfield*s 
Client calls for Judgment of the Court, and 
expe£ls it, and infiits upon it : it is neceflary 
for me, therefore, in two words to ftate— — 

'^ Lord Manifield. — Is th« Clarke's opi- 
nion ? 

^^ Mr. Mansfield, — Mr. Clarke was unwife 
enough, when he was at the Theatre, to join 
in the riot which happened there. It is matter 
of aftonifhment to him, that that has been im- 
puted to him, which has been imputed fince — 
that he had formed a defign, with a number of 
other people, to ruin Mr. Macklin ; a defign 
he had no concern in, I ftate it, that his guilt 



1 



£34 *^HE LIFE OF 

was this, which I cannot but blame him for, 
that he did improperly join in the riot. . 

*' Lord Mansfield."^-! don't alk you to go 
over the obfervations again ; you ftated them 
very fully, and I attended to them, as I always 
do. What I afk you is, whether he delires to 
go before the Mafter, or how ? 

'' Mr. Mansfield.-— Mr. Clarke will have no 
objeftion, I dare fay, to contribute towards a 
fatisfaftion to Mr.-Mackliny after what has been 
faid of the extent of Mr. Macklin's demands. 
As to Mr. Clarke's jomngmth thefe people, and 
going before the Matter,' I cannot tell what to 
fay to that. 

" Lord Mansfield. — The Court will dif- 
tinguifh the cafe of thofe that will not go be- 
fore the Mafter. 

" I obferve that the Report is very long, and 
accurate, and one remembers it the more par- 
ticularly:— I think, when Clarke and Aldus 
came in, there was a general applaufe given. 



CHARLES MAC KLIN. 235 

^ Mr. JuJiiceAftm. — I don't think the Jury 
did wrong in what they did. 

^' Lord Mansfield. — I think there is not 
Evidence fufficient, of a previous concert, con-^ 
nefted with all the Papers :— notwithftanding 
that, the offence that he was guilty of was a 
very great one, and very injurious to Mr^ 
Mackltn. 

*^ Mr. 'Dunning. — I was only fpeaking as to 
the effcft of that diftinftion, as applied to Mr^ 
ClarkCy — why Mr. Clarke's cafe appears to mc 
not to be diftinguifhablc to his advantage : — 
They come under the imprcflionof fome rcfent- 
ment, and conceiving that they had fome caufe 
of quarrel, they did what is imputed to them. 
Mr. Clarke came- there without any refent- 
ment — had received no provocation from Mr. 
Mackltn — had no quarrel with him — had never 
feen him, as 1 know of, before ; but, upon the 
moment that he faw mifchief going forward, 
he chofe to diftinguifh himfelf, as the leader 
of them, — and was recognized by the troops of 
whom he was the leader. 



5136 THE LIFE OF 

*' It appears, from the Report, that he takes 
. the rail from the Bench, and beats the Scenes, 
and menaces Mr. Macklin with it ; that he was 
not fatisficd with the affurance of Mr. Benjleyy 
that Mr. Macklin fhould be difcharged, but he 
infifted i»poa Mr. Colman's perfonal promife, 
Mr. Clarke would be fatisficd with nothing lefe 
than Mr. Colman's pledging his word and ho-. 
nour, that all that the other people had faid, 
fliould be done. The reft of the people, for 
what I know, would have ' been fatisficd with 
what Benjley had faid. * No,' fays Clarke y * I 
will make up for my late attendance in this bu- 
finefs. I, who am your leader, will have bet- 
ter terms. We have now got the enemy at 
our feet j you are content to leave him there j 
. he is hunted down, and there he lies j but thi$ 
will not fatisfy me ; Mr. Cdman fhall come out, 
and fhall promife that he fhall remain there/ I 
confefs I fpeak from my feelings on the fubjecEt j 
his fituation is fo far from being diftinguilhed 
to his advantage, that I really think he appears, 
to very great difadvantage. ' 



I 



I 



CHARLES MACRLIK* 237 

^^ Mr. MansfeU.—lliSLVt no opportunity of 
talking with Mr. Clarke here—it is. an hafty • 
propofal. I find the demand is now madcj^ 
which will amount to about feventcen or eigh- 
teen hundred pounds, as expreffed ; and it i« 
iaid, that fome of the Perfons who arc to make 
thiscomperifation, arc men of lowcircumftances* 
Whether that is fo or not, I don't know. To 
be fure, 1 cannot advifc him to rifle the pay- 
ment of that;— but he will be willing to do 
any thing. — 

'* Lord Mansfield. — The only conlequence 
is, that he will be committed* 

'^ Mr. Mansfield.— I fhould hope not* 

" Lord Mansfield: — Why ? 

" Mr. Mansfield.-^-''Btc9,u(G it has not been 
ufual for this Court to commit perfons, unlcli 
for very atrocious crimes, where perfons arc 
of any rank and condition. 



238 THE LIFE OF 

" Mr. Juftice' Afton. — It is a very unforfu- 
nate thing for people of fuch rank and con- 
dition to involve themfelves in fuch a fituation. 

^^ Mr. Mansfield."— I don*t vindicate Mr. 
Clarkcy but I know that there were five hun» 
dred more in that condition in the Houfe. 

• " Lord Mansfield.— I am clear they muft be. 
committed. At the time that this Rule was 
made abfolute, I felt for the Profecutor ; I felt 
for the perfons accufed; and I am fure^ in the 
ftrongcft: manner, I recommended to them to 
give the Cofts of the Profecution into the fatis-. 
faftion : and they had nothing more to do then, 
than to have fuffered Judgment to go by de- 
fault, or to have confeffed the Indiftmentj 
and then it would have gone to the Mafter 
ftripped of all the Cofts, that they have been 
put to upon either fide. Nothing of that fort 
has been done, but here is a vaft expence, 
which will extremely load and add to the mo- 
ney that is to be paid» 



CHARLES MACKLIN. » 239 

. *^ Mr. Cowper.'-At is -but juftice to Mr. 
• Leigh y to inform your Lordfhip, that, at the 
time the Rule was made abfolute, Mr. Leigh 
never fhewed Caufe, nor appeared in Court. 
He was in Ireland when the notice was ferved 
at his houfe. Not many hours before the Trial 
came on, Mr. Leigh exprefled ' to me his 
wilhes that a compromife might be obtained. 
He difclofed to me what the extent of his cir- 
cumftances were. 

'^ Lor J Mansfield.-'^'lt was in your own 
power to ftop it — for you had no defence againft 
it— you had nothing to do but to fufFcr Judg- 
ment to go by default — you would have faved 
the cxpence. Now here are m^y hundred 
pounds in the expence of the Profecution :— in 
fo far as the Jury have made a diftinftion, if it 
goes to the Matter, I fhall give him a double 
direftion: firft, a diredtion what fatisfaftion 
fhould be paid by Mr. Clarke^ becaufc he, ac- 
cording to the finding of the Jury, was not 
involved in any circumftances, but by himfelf ; 
and^next a direftion what fatisfaftion the others 
Ihall make, for they are all confpirators jointly. 



J14C> • 1*HB LIFE Of 

It is a very heinous thing — it is not a trifling 
offence, — it is a dilgrace to the country to have 
a riot — money and entertainments given to 
people to carry it into execution— ^neither does 
it follow what the Mafter will give^ But the 
Defendants don't know what they, are doing. 
It is mercy for them to go before the Mafter, 
for the Profecutor may, to-morrow morning, 
bring his Aftion againft them all, and they will 
have damages to pay. 

" Mr. j8i?jrfro//.— ^DoesyourLordfhipmean, 
that the Mafter Ihould confider what each per- 
fon Ihall pay m proportion* I have no objec- 
tion for Mr. James* 

'*^ Lord Mansfield. — I don't know how the 
Mafter may diftinguifh — I don't know them, 
therefore I fay it without prejudice — fuppofe 
there be any one of them that is worth nothmg 
— becaufe, fuppofe you brought an action they 
would all be liable. — 

'^ Mr. Mansfield. — They muft be coQiie^4 
and joined together. 



CHARLES MAck^IN. ^ 24I 

" Ldrd ManffieU.^-'Thcy are convidcd of 
a Confpiracy ; they all joined in the Riot — I 
dare fay this is an immenfe long Information — 
a vaft many Counts — the very parchment, and 
fees, and writing, ^^uft come to a great deal. 

'' Mr. Dunning. — Mr. Macklin will very 
willingly fubmit his pretenfions to the decifion 
of the Matter, or to what anyreafonable man 
Ihall think, in the jufticc of the cafe, he Ihall 
be entitled to. 

^^ Lord Mansfield. — I^ inftcad of the Matter, 
>yoU' will agree between you upon any pcrfon 
for a RcfereCj I fhull like that jutt as well. 

^' Mr, Dunning. — I don't believe there can 
be a better Referee than the Matter. 

'^ Lord Mansfield.^-At is a very ferious 
Caufe — every one of them had better go before 
the Matter. 

" Mr. Leigh.-' -1 am afraid, my Lord^ that 
nope of us arc able to pay an heavy fines we 
Vol. n. R 



t4^ THE LIFE Of 

would, rather be committed than ruin our* 
felvcs, 

" Lord Mansfield. — But you will do both— r 
you may depend upon it, that it is always a 
favour to the Defendant to let it go before the 
Matter; for the Court often refufe t6 let it go 
before the Mailer. 

*' Mr. Wallace.--^ t muft bring the other 
Defendant that is in the country. — 

" Lord Mansfield.'-h-Yt^y certainly, he muft 
be brought up to Judgment. They don*t 
know, that if the Court is to give a fine, that 
then the Profecutor can only have a third of it 
towards fatisfaftion ; and if the Court think it 
fuch a cafe as cries aloud for a fatisfaftion, why 
they muft enlarge the fine, to make the third 
the more. So it is a favour to them; it is only 
affifting them, by deduAing from the fine. It 
does not follow that the Mafter is to give his 
demands, though he is turned out oT this Salary. 
Under all the circumftanccs of the cafe, the 



CHARLES MACKllN. Id.^ 

Mafter will decree lefs or more. He is bound 
by no rules in this cafe. It is one of the moft 
liberal difcufllons that can be. 

^' Mr. Leigh . — Mr. Macklin has loft but 
800I. 

" Lord Mansfield. — That the Matter will 
take into his confideration. 

" Lord Mansfield to Mr. Colman. — Thefe 
Gentlemenj that are before us^ upon this occa- 
fion, call thcmfehres the Public, and decide it 
for the Public ; now, as we have the PubHc 
here, perhaps 

"Mr. Colman. — Thank God, I have nothing 
to do with it. 

" Lord Mansfield. — Perhaps you are tired 
of it. 

" Mr. Leigh. — I am no way conneAed with 
the Gcndemen. 



#44 ^^^ ^^'' ^' 

" Lord Man^€ld.-*At will be m very good 
hands with the Mailer. . 

'^ Mr. Leigh. — It has been almoft a thoufand 
(KMinds but* <>f it\y pocket. 

" Mr, Bearcroft. With regard to my 

Client^ I will leave his cafe to Mr. Colman. 

" Lord Mansfield. — Then you have got into 
it, Mr. Colfnan. 

'* Mr. Cohnan. — I beg to decline it. 

" Mr. James. — I hope your Locdlhip does 
not involve me in the guilt of Mr. Leigh y who 
hired people to go intx> the Houfe. 

*' Lord Mansfield.-— T\it Matter will pro- 
portion it, according to his difcretion, guided 
by the feveral parts you took in the injury. 
The Matter may charge you all jointly if he 
pkafes, or, if he fees a ground for it, he may 
feparate you:— except Mr. Clarke, he ftands fc- 
parated by the Verdi<a, whether to his advan- 



CHARLES MACKLIIf. 2^f 

tage or not I will not fay. To be fure it is 
fitter for the Matter j and, if cither party w^nti 
to make ufe of Mr, Colman's judgment in it, he 
may, to be fure, be aflced queftions. 

^' If they would lay their heads together, and 
make a liberal oi&r, perhaps it would be better 
for both parties to avoid all litigation before 
the Mafter. 

^^ Mr. Blake.— Thty don't know the extent 
of his wiflies. 

" Lord Mansfield.— 1 do not fay that he 
(kould have a fatis&dion according to his Sa- 
lary, and the value of his Benefits j but, in tht 
firft place, he fhould have his Cofts, for I con* 
demn the Defendants very much for not hav- 
ing done what I pr<^oled. 

*^ Ammeyfor Mr. Clarke. -^-ht the time of 
the Trial there was an ofier of 500I. macic himif 
he then flood off, and faid he would hav« 
1700I. , They had better receive the Judgment 
of the Court. 



24^ THE LlTt OF 

^' Lord Mansfield. —InAttA they had better 
not, for it docs not follow that he will get it- 
The Cofts of the profecution muft amount to a 
great deal of money. Mr. BarloWy what may 
it have coft Mr. Macklin ? 

*^ Mr. Barlow. — The Cofts of the Profecu- 
tion will come to three or four hundred pounds. 

'^ Mr. Jufiice Jfton. — You don't confider 
that thcfe Papers have. not been read, which 
are an exceeding great aggravation of this 
crime. 

*' Lord Matisfield.-'-l remember the Papers 
upon the motion. The Court heard it with 
great attention. 

" Mr. Leigh. — He attacked mc in the Pa- 
pers : he.faid, in the Newfpapers, that my wife 
was in company with a parcel of whores. I 
have fufFered enough, and have been at a great 
dealof expence. 



CHARLBS MACICI.IN. ^47 

'^ L$rd MoMsJiild. — The Papers arc an im- 
menle aggravation. When they go before the 
Mailer^ Clarke will be feplarated from all the 
charge of the Papers .J from the premeditated 
confpiracy. I fliall leave it as to Clarke fepa* 
rate with the Mafter : with regard to the 
others^ to join or feparate them as he ihall think 
proper. 

" Mr. Jujiice Wtlles. — Perhaps Clarke might 
offer feparately fuch a fum of money as might 
be accepted on his pa^'t^ and leave the reft to 
go before the Mafter. 

" LQrd Mansfield.— You nauft bring up 
Miles immediately, cither to give judgment 
upon him, or make him a party. Give them 
fiirthcr time, at prefent, for the Judgment of 
the Court, 

*^ Mr. Dunning.—'Wc will give them leav<: 
to make ufe of any power they have to^t 
Miles. 

R4 



248 ^H£ LIFE Of 

« Lord Mansfidd. — Bring him up hcie to- 
morrow, or Saturday, or any day as foon as 
you can. 

" Attorney for Miles. — My Lord, Afr. Miles 
authorized me to fay, that he was willing t6 
hare it referred, and, as far as he is concerned, 
to make that fatisfadtion which Ihall be thought 
to be juft and right. 

♦' Lord Mansfield. — Therefore refer it to the 
Maiber, to fee what fatisfa£tion fhall be made 
by the Defendant Clarke, and what fatisfa&ion 
ihall be made to the Profecutor by the other 
Defendants ; in which the Matter will judge 
with all equity and latitude, under all the cir- 
cumftances, and apportion between them, or 
not apportion»between them, according as he 
ihall think right j and he is neither bound to 
give the demand that Mr. Macklin has made, 
or not give it ; nor is he bound by any ilridt 
rule. 

*' Mr. Blake. — Mr. Leigh is in Court, he 
inuft judge for himfelf. 



CHAltLBS MACKLIN. I49 

^^>Lvrd M^nsfield.r-'-l advifc him to confent; 

*^ Mr. Macklin. — My Lord, I fliall always 
be happy in obeying any advice that comes 
from this Court, but there is one circumftance 
that I thiiik demands an explanation. What- 
ever falls from the tongue of an Advocate is 
cafily transferred to the Report, and the credu- 
lity of the Public. A Gentleman has thrown 
out that I want revenge. My Lord, I have no 
fuch idea. I never had. If this matter had 
been fubmitted to me, they would have found 
me a far different kind of man. • Not a man of 
revenge. In every Stage of this bufinefs, my 
I^rd, from the firft to the laft, I have felt a 
refentment, but I have always felt a compaffion, 
even for the people I was profecuting. 

*' I foficited them, my Lord, in every me- 
thod that was in my power— with aU humanity, 
and even with a meannefs of fpirit, my Lord— 
and now I am told that I want revenge. 

** My Lord, it has been {aid too, by the Ad- 
vocate, that he has Affidavits : this is an im- 



S50 TH£ I.IFE OF 

pucatioiij my Lord^ an inuendo^ tmwarrantaUe 
in a liberal mind. 



*' My Lord3 if he talks of Affidavits^ Ihayc 
Affidavits of a tremendous nature : — not Affi- 
davits> but Witneffes, to Ihew that this Caufe 
has not yet been bottomed. But, my Lord^ I 
do not rife to contend^ or for revenge. , L 
never profecuted for vengeance j I defpife tbt 
idea. Let them here, in the cu-cumftances 
that they ftand m, produce mc byt an ordinary 
fafety* 

*' I profecuted from the firft law of nature, 
Jelf 'defence — and 2i public example. My Lord> 
I have a feeling and refentment too, but I have 
compaffion. My Lord, I defy them to make 
mc an offer, liberal in an ordinary degree, that 
I would not accept of, without troubling the 
Mafter. I have only my expences in viewer- 
Befides, my daughter has fuffi^red to the amount 
of 2501, I have now propofals from Scotland; 
I have propofals from Ireland; Lcoiild get 
money here ; but, if I am fent before the Maf- 
ter, I ipuft lofe all that opportunity, and more 



CHAltLSS MACKLIN. I5I 

money than will, perhaps, arifc from the in- 
terview with the Mailer : therefore, with hum«- 
ble fubmiffion to the Court — it is difficult to 
fpeak, circumftanced as I am, without imper- 
tinence^ — ^without digreffion.— I am aware that 
no man, but he that has travelled in the paths 
of this Court, knows what to fay in it cor- 
reftly : — but, in contradidion to the Learned 
Gentleman now in my eye, who fays that I 
want revenge, and to Ihcw that he is ignorant 
of my difpofition in this point, let any man of 
honor be appointed immediately : I will abide 
by every thing that he fuggefts of juftice, I 
want no revenge. And, my Lord, I hayc 
fomething further to fay : this man before 
your Lordlhip, this TaytoTy within thefe few 
days, has dared to tell me, before many Wit- 
• neiles — relponfible Tradcfmcn, in Covcnt- 
Garden, with an infolcnce unbecoming his fitu- 
ation or charadter— * u4&, aby ah! you will 
* fend me to gaol then — it may he againft the 
^ law to bijs^ but it is not againft the law to 
' laugh J for, depend upon it, when you play 
f Tr^cdy, you will have a very merry Audi- 
' tnct—Ahy aby ab J* 



2S2 TH£ LfFB OF 

^^ I aflure your LoixUhipj that this man^ 
jbougb be is but a Ti^Ury has a very fi>arp 
tongue, and a very quick mind. 

** My Lord, were I to utter his Em Mots 
upon me, and my circumftances, you would 
laugh heartily indeed :— *but of him I (hall Tay 
no more. 

'* The advice that fell from the Court, when 
the Rule was made abfolute, though direded 
to the Defendants, made a very deep impreffion 
on my mind. I felt the humanity, I felt the 
awfulnefs of that advice ; and, from that mo- 
ment, I folicited, with all the anxiety in my 
power, to bring /hem to a compofition.— • 
Money was not my objeSt tben—tt is not my ob- 
je5l now. 

^' My Lord, 1 have Gentlemen in Court to 
prove that I laid a plan of genefal acconuno- 
dation, and I will reveal it now. 

[Mr. Macklin here addreffed himfclf to the 
Defendants.] 



CHARLES MACKLIN. %§$ 

^^ * Pay me my cxpcnccs— -you have injured 
tue as a man s make fome compenfation to the 
Managers of the Theatre ; make fome com- 
penfation to my daughter, whofe Benefit is 
depending.' 

*^ My Lord, thus I projected it, as a means 
of general rea>nciliation :-^with thefe Gentle- 
men I would have contrived it^ and I ftated it 
to my Advocate. I fuggeiled it to the De- 
fendants, that the propofal might come from 
them, and that, confequently, they might ob- 
tdn a general popularity. , 

" But how is this compenfation to be made ? 
What was the mode I fuggefted i It is this — 

^^ ^ Let them take one hundred pound's worth 
of Tickets for Mi/s Macklin's benefit — (he has 
loft 250L : — Let them take one hundred pounds 
worth of Tickets for Mr. Macklin ; and let 
them take one hundred pounds worth of Tickets, 
upon fome night that he plays, as a kind of 
compenfation to the Managers.' This wa^ of no 
advantage to me — I can fill my Houfe without 



154 ^HS LIFE or 

It ', but I meant to give them the populaiitr 
gf doing a juftice to the man they had injttred; 
and ofconvincii^ the Public that they would 
never do the like agdn> and that they were in 
amity, and not in enmity, with me. — My Lord> 
I have nothing more to fay. 

" Lord Mansfield.-— -Thtn I think you have 
(fcne yourfclf great credit, and great honor> 
by what you have now faid ; and I think your 
€i(fndu6t is wife, too ; and I think it will fup- 
port you, with the Public, againft any man 
that (hall at(ack you. I think it highly be- 
coming upon your part \ for now what he pro- 
pofes is, to give up all this litigaiimy only to 
be paid bis coftsy which, in a double fenie, he 
ought to be paid. I iky a double fenfey becaufe 
the profccution was well founded ; and parti- 
cularly, becaufe the Defendants would not flop 
it, when it was recommended to them, — and 
a. fmall fatisfaclion, in this way, to his daughter 
for her Benefit. I think fomc fingle perfon l\as 
ajpcady offered more for his own flxare. 



CHARLES MACRLIN. a^^ 

«' Mr.Macklin, you have done yourfelf great 
credit by it ; and the Public^ I am iatisfied, 
efpecially in this Country, love gcnerofity. 
You will do more good by this, in the eyes of 
the Public, than if you had received all the 
money that you had a right to receive, 

** I think you have afted bandfomily^boneftly^ 
honorably J and done yourfelf great fefvice by 
it. t think it is a mod generous conduft.—- « 
Mr. Blake, you will be able to fettle it, 

''Mr.Macklin. — KMefrs. Clarke, Aldus ^A 
James will meet me : — I will not meetthe Tay- 
lor, for itis impoffible to confine his tongue.— 

" Lord Mansfield. — Mr. Macklin, fee whc^ 
thcr I cannot make peace between you. Now, 
fuppofe he undertakes to be bound by a Rule 
of Court, to ftand committed if he ever fo much 
as, by look or word, puts you in a paflion. 

*' The propofal, then, is to pay him his Cofts, 
and to take 300I. worth of Tickets, in the way 
that he has mentioned. — Let it be fo. 



a^6 THB tIFE OF 

'^ Mr. Mdcklin, the Houfc will receive fo 
much benefit from it^ perhaps they will paqr 
you the arrears. 

" Mr. Macklin. — My Lord^ I never did 
quarrel with a Manager for money yet : I never 
made a bargsdn with a man ; whatever they offer 
me^ I take. 

'^ Lord Man^ld.-^^Tou have tnH wiibgraa 
applaufe to day :»^'-jrou never a5ed better J* 



Cftap* viii. 

DURING the whole courle of this remark- 
able Trial, the King's Bench was 
crowded beyond all former example, and Mr. 
Mackfin obtamed wonderful applaufe. His 
lenity towards the unfortunate Conlpirators 
did him the higheft honor, and procured. for 
him that proud encomium paid him by .Lord 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 2^7 

Mansfield. Peace being n6w concluded, Mr. 
Macklin entered into a new agreement with Mr. 
Harris, in the fpring of the year 1775, ^^^> ^^^ 
wards the beginning of the enfuing feafon, made 
his Re-appearance at Covcnt-Garden, for the 
benefit of his daughter, in Sbylock and Sir Archy 
Macfarcafm. The reception he met with, on 
this occafion, was extremely gratifying to his 
feelings, and elated him fo much, that he turned 
his mind once more to Tragedy, and, on Tuef- 
day the 1 2th November, performed Richard 
III. to a very crowded Audience.— The fol- 
lowing critique upon hi? I^erformance appeared 
the fuccceding day in Mr. Woodfall's. News- 
paper. 



ti 



Mr. Macklin was lafi: night received, in 
" the character of Richard^ with that generous 
" warmth of applaufe, which a veteran of the 
" Stage, endeavouring to plcafe, (though in a 
" ftylc of ading tkc Public have not been much 
" accuftomed to fee him attempt) ought ever to 
" experience. 
Vol. II. S 



258 THB LIFE or 

" We have often fpokc of Mr. Macklin's 
*' judgment, even where we found ourfelves 
*' obliged to call his execution in queftion. 
" He, laft night, in the three firft a6ts, exerted 
" himfelf with a degree of fuccefs, much fu- 
" perior to that which attended him formerly, 
"in performing. the fame charafter. In the 
*« two laft — but we have no occafion to enter 
" upon a tafk fo invidious ,and unwckoine as 
** thatof ftarting inquiries after defefts, which 
" perhaps are afcribable to nature only. 

" Suffice it that we declare, that Mr. f^lack- 
^' lin's vigour was unabated till the end of the 
*' Tragedy i and, confidering that he did not, 
'* till within the three laft years, very fre- 
^' qucntly ftep forward as a Tragedian, his Re- 
" prefentation of Ricbardy yefterday evening, 
" was a wonderful performance." 

Mr. Macklin intended to have aded King 
Lear after Richard III. but not receiving the 
applaufe that he expefted, in the perfonifica- 
tion of the latter Charafter, he relinquiflied 
kis intention. 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 2^^ 

We fliall lay before the Reader the following 
ciiticifms on Mr. Garrick's manner of ading 
King Lear and Othello^ which were written bjr 
Mr. Macklin about this time. 

^^ Garrick's Lear and Othello. 

" Why did he fall aflecp in Lear? Is the 
" aft ncceflary in the Play ? What is the in- 
^^ tent ? It is not conducive to forward the 
" Fable. It does iiot produce any incident, 
" fpecch, fentiment, pafllon, or refleftion.-— 
" It does not mark or de velope any part of the 
*' Character. It is one of Shakfpcare's weak 
" redundancies, pardonable in him, who wrote 
'^ in a barbarous age, as to the Drama, but 
^^ mod unpardonable in an Ador in thefe times. 

'^ Suppofe an Author fhoukl bring a Tra- 
" gedy to Mr. Garrick, in which the capital 
^' Character, through madnefs or fatigue of paf- 
^' fion, even to the exhaufting of all ftrength or 
" ability to quit the fcenc, is tmit to fall afleep 
" upon the Stage — ^wouldMr, Garrick approve 
" of it ? Why, really, to fpcak my mind ho- 
S 2 



l6o THE LIFE OF 



I 



" neftly of that Gentleman's judgment, I am 
'^ inclined to bcKcvc he would — for, by the 
^^ fpecimens that he ha3 given in his adting ; 
*' his ftrange manner of dying and griping the 
'^ carpet j his writhing, ftraining, and agoniz- 
*' ing; (all of which he has introduced into the 
" profeffion of afting) there is no new-fangled 
^^ conceit, of that nature, that I do not think 
" him capable of countenancing i butlam fure, 
" that thofe who know what nature in the 
'* Drama is, would condemn it as a paltry, pe- 
*' /// impropriety : but the truth is, he be- 
*^ haved in this trick, (for a mere trick it is 
" in acting) as he did when he played Of hello ^ 
*' firft. When he was ftudying that Part, he 
" confidered that Quin was a large, corpulent 
*^ man ; and that he himfelf was a diminutive, 
<' mean figure for the Moor i therefore, he 
** knew that Quin could not fall fuddenly on 
*' the ground> as it were in a fit, without 
*' greatly hurting himfelf, and, perhaps, raif- 
" ing laughter in the Audience 5 but that he, 
" with his infignificant perfon, could do it 
"without the rifque of either;, and, therefore, 
" introduced that fhamcful fcene of the Epi- 



CHARLES MACRLIN. 261 

^^ Icpfy in the 4th Aft, which, inftcad of being 
'^ applauded, ought to have been exploded 
^^ with indignation and contempt for his im- 
^* pudence — in the firft place, in ofierbg foch 
^' an abfurd paflage to a thinking and fuppofed 
"judicious Public; and, in the next place, 
" for reftoring a paflage, which, in the records 
*' of the Theatre, had never been adbed j and 
" which, on and ofF the Stage; muft be looked 
" upon as an excrefcence of the worft fort, of 
** the great genius that produced it. The 
" fame trick he played in this fleeping excref- 
" cence of King Lear — he knew that Barry, 
'^ on account of his fize, could not be carried 
" off the Stage with the fame eafe that he could, 
* and therefore introduced it," 

About this time, alfo, Mr. Macklin wrote 
the following Character of Mr. Garrick, which 
we have tranfcribed, verbatim et literatim from 
the original paper. 

" Garrick's Character. 

" His tyc was dark, but not charafteriftical 
^* of any paflion, but the fierce and the lively t 

S3 



1 



262 ^ THY I*IF£ Of 

*' To friendfhip with man^ or lore and friend- 
*^ (hip with woman, he never was dtfpofed ; 
'^ for love of himielf always forbid it. Envy 
«^ was his torment— ever dreading merit in the 
'^ loweft of his brethren, and pining at the ap- 
^' plaufe and fortune that their labours pro- 
^^ cured thiem. 

^' He had a nam>w, contracted mind, bounded 
** on one fide by Su/picUn, by Envy on the 
*' other, by Avarice in the front, and by pale 
^' Fear in the rear, with^^in the centre. Out 
*' of theie limits he never expatiated or tranf- 
'* curred, unlcfs Fear and Oftentation exerted 
" their fundions conjointly. 

" He never could enjoy the convivial fclici- 
" tics of focictyi efpecially with thofc pcrfon§ 
" who were moft capable of tailing, contribut- 
*' ing, and adminiftcring the unrefcrycd, unde- 
** figning, free inquiries of improved ingenious 
*^ minds. He had read and heard that the 
'' more refined and thinking minds, of all ages, 
" had a particular pleafure in the mental inter- 
^* courfe of the ingenious few. Of this cuftom 



CHARLES MACKLIK. a6j 

*^ he was rcfohred to avail himiclf— but it was 
" juft as an hypocrite avwls himfclf crf'religion, 
*' by oftentation and impofture — for he herded 
" conftantly with Wits, and was, in letters, a 
'' profeffed Tartuff to all. 

" He had a hackneyed kind of metaphorical, 
" theatrical, tinfellcd phrafeology, made out 
^^ of tags and ends, quotations and imitations of 
" our Engliih poets; and, indeed, from the 
** Greek and Latin authors, as often as his me- 
" mory fcrved him with the fcraps and mottos 
" it had quaintly picked up; for he knew no 
" book of antiquity, nor, indeed, of modern 
" note. Prior y la Fontam^ Swift's Poetry, and 
*' a few more of that kind excepted ; thefe 
" he conftantly imitated^ plundered, difguifed, 
" and frittered in occafional prologues, epi- 
<' logucs, and complimentary poems upon 
** parrots, lap-dogs, monkies, birds, growing 
" wits, patrons, and ladies. But what he 
*^ moft excelled in, was, in writing epigrams 
" and Ihort poems in praife of himfelf and his 
** produdtions, and in defamation of a rival 
*^ Aftor, or of any of thofe poor people of the 
S 4 



1 



264 THE LIFE or 

" Stage, whom he wifhed to be unpopular. 
'^ With fuch fhreds and patches he conilantly 
*« fed the daily papers, the reviews, and maga^ 
" zines. — Each of his aflbciate Wits had a pe- 
*' culiar quaintnefs of phrafc and greeting -, 
^' fuch as—-' My /prig of Parnajfus^ ht me 
'* pour my incenje V 

" He laboured for private eftccm, but al- 
" ways in vain ! Fear> envy, and avarice were 
*' feen even in deeds that appeared convivial, 
" benevolent, and liberal ! He was a maker of 
" profeflions, but a flave to intercft ! He was 
^* honoured as an Aftor, hated as a Man, and 
** defpifed as an Author ! He ever made friend- 
" fhip a footftool to his intcreft and ambition. 
*' The two men that he was moft obliged to, he 
^* ^ways hated and feared. He ruined the one, 
•* and planned the deftrudion of the other ! He 
" could have no lading intimacy with any body. 
** He was totally void of any kind of addrcfs to 
" men or women, in any rank or circumftanceof 
*' life, that the judicious, and thofe who h»i 
^* thought on that art, called genteel or well-. 
*' bred. 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 265 

^* His art in afting confifted in inccffandy 
*' pawing and hawling the Charafters about, 
*^ with whom he was concerned in the fcene — 
'* and when he did not paw or hawl the Cha- 
'^ rader, he ftalked between them and the Au- 
*^ dience ; and that generally when they were 
*^ fpeaking the moft important and interefting 
*' paffage in the Scene — which demanded, in 
*^ propriety, a ftrid attention. When he 
" fpoke hitnfelf, he pulled about the Cha- 
" rafter he fpoke to, and fqueezed his hat, 
" hung forward, and flood almoft upon one 
" foot, with no part of the other to the ground 
" but the toe of it. 

*^ His whole aftion, when he made love in 
" Tragedy or in Comedy-r-when he was fami- 
" liar with his friend — when he was in anger, 
" forrow, rage — confifted in fqueezing his hat, 
*' thumping his brcaft, ftrutting up and down 
" the Stage, and pawing the Charafters that he 
" afted with. 

'^ In private life, had this man been inter- 
«^ dift^d the ufc of mimicry, of fimulation, and 



}66 THB LIFE OF 

*' dtflimulation^ he would have appeared^ i^at 
** in reality he was, a fuperficial, itifignificant 
*' msm. But with the help of thole arts, he 
•* was entertaining, and appeared fagacious, 
" learned, good-natured, modeft, and friendly 
^* to thofe who had no dealings with him— but 
** to thofe who had, he was known to the very 
** heart j for his attachment to intcrcft in deal- 
** ings made him as obvious, as if Nature had 
** made a window to his heart. 

*' Our aftions are the only true teftimonies 
^' of our probity. Our intimates, and thofe 
** with whom we chufe to retire and live in 
*' private with, fomifli the beft proofs of the 
" ftrength or weaknefs, richnefs or poverty of 
" th? mind, 

y The paltry aftions of this man are well 
" known : his intimates I need not defcribc. 
•• The tree is known by its fruit. 

*^ An ancient philofopher, fpeakmg of Envy, 
" charadlerizes it very finely, by faying, it is of 
** that perverfe, unfociable, felfifh nature^ 



CHAHLIS MACKLIN^ fl67 

f^ thal^ were it abfolutc, it would rather 
** forego the indifpcnfiblc influence of the fun, 
*^ than participate the bktffmg with mankind, 
** This defcription of Envy may feem to fomc 
*^ men to be ex^gerated and hyperbolical ; 
*^ but thofe who have obferved this paffion in 
^^ its extremes, in the commerce of the world, 
*^ or, as Milton h^ charaftcrized it in his Par^- 
" dife Lofi, will find it to be naturally juft^ 
" A llronger inftance of it3 influence fure never 
*^ was known, than in the perfon we have now 
*' under confideration i For, not fatisfied with 
^^ endeavouring to delVroy the fame of every 
" contemporary Aftor, he attacked even that of 
^* the Aftrefles, and fuccccdcd. ffor was the 
" traducement of the living fame of male and 
<* female^ of every age and rank upon the 
<^ Suge, fufficient to gorge the maw of Envy : 
♦' it flew to the dead ! and infidioufly broke 
" open the hallowed tombs of Better ton, 
" Booth, Wilks^ and other honoured fpiritS;, 
^VNature's favourite children, who had been 
" foftered and perfefted by Art, Applaufe, ancj 
" Time, — and, when living, whom Envy's felf 
*^ allowed to be Nature's darling fons, and Art's 



268 THE LIFB OF 

" pcrfcft pupils': yet, thcfc very ipirits would 
" he flyly bring upon the carpet j mimic, 
" though he never faw them; tell anecdotes of 
" them, and traduce their immortal fame, by 
" ftigmatizing them as mannerifts, arid deno- 
** minating them as perfons who fpoke in reci- 
" tative. Thus would he ferve them up to 
^* ignorant people, who believed and won- 
" dcred; and to dependants and flatterers, who 
" retailed the libellous anecdotes, inveftives, 
^^ and quaint conceits, and concluded that the 
<* art was never known but by the narrator, 
*' who, with an apparent modefty, and a con- 
" cealed impudence, made himfclf the hero of 
" the hiftorical criticifm. 

*' His mind was bufied upon the external 
*' and partial looks, tones, gaits, and motions of 
^^ individuals in their ordinary habits. Of the 
^^ paflTions, their degrees and kinds, and of their 
*' influence upon the organs, and their impref- 
** fions upon the body, he knew but little, very 
*' little indeed ! His mind and knowledge were, 
<'Uke his body, little, pert, acute, quick, 



CHARLES MaCICLIN. i6^ 

" weak, eaiily fliocked and worn down, fub- 
" tie, plaufible. 

'* By this external partial imitation of indivi- 
*' duals, he continually exercifed his mind and 
'• body. This wretched buffoonery comprized 
" his knowledge, his humour, his learning, 
" convcrfation, wifdom, virtue, elegance, breed- 
" ing, and his companionable qualities. His 
*' mimicry, both off the Stage, and on it, 
" ferved him, inftead of figure, grace, charac- 
'* ter, manners, and of a perfeft imitation of 
** general nature, as it paffes through human 
" life, in every charaftcr, age, rank and ftatiop. 

*' He introduced fleep into Ltar : fhcwed 
" how the body dreamt in Richard. He alfo 
*' introduced fleep into Sir John Brute i and, for 
" many minutes, to the extravagant fatisfadtion 
** of the Audience, cut the faces of an ideot, ^ 
'^ lunatic, a ftupor : fb expert was he in all the 
" trick of the face, which the good people ac^ 
" knowledged as an imitation of a drunken man 
" falling afleep. 



ft7^ TrtE hlVt Of 

^^ Whcnevicr a Manager fctg up his otm 
" power, taftc, or avarice, againft the power, 
" judgment, or entertainment of the People, he 
*' forfeits every right to their favot ; nay he 
" merits their contempt and refentment. Gar- 
" rick never obliged the Public in any one arti- 
" cle during the time of his Management > on 
" the contrary, he took every ftcp by which he 
*^ could ere£t himfclf into a tyrant^ to crufti the 
** fpirit and genius of merit both in Aftors and 
'' Authors i to corrupt the public taftc ; to fill 
" his own coffers j and to make his own judg- 
" ment the ftandard of every fpccies of drama- 
" tic merit. 

" His wit always wanted ftrcngth, his de- 
*' fcriptions humour, his manner pleaiantry, 
" his conduct integrity, his difpofition good 
, " nature, and his deportment decency." 

Mr. Garriek died on the aoth of January, 
.1779, of a palfey in the kidnies. He was 
buried in the moft magnificent manner in Wtft- 
minfter-Abbey. 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 27! 

C^ap* IX. 

DURING the feafonof 1776, Mr. Mack- 
lin performed but feldom. His love for 
ckamatic compofition incrcafcd every day, and 
he preferred his Study to the Theatre. He 
was ever ready to give his advice to young 
Performers, and heftowed a great deal of pains 
and time in the inftruftion of his Pupils, of 
whom he feldom had lefs than two or three. 
Thefe he not only entertained in his own houfe, 
box furniftied them with every neceflary* they 
wanted, and even fupplied them with money. 
He did all this without any pecuniary retribu- 
tion ; and, as foon as he thought them qualiBed 
for making their appearance on the Stage, he 
procured them an* engagement. The friends 
of the late celebrated Mr. Henderfon requeftcd • 
Mr. Macklin to hear him rehcarfe, point 
out his errors, and advife the heft method for 
improving his recitation. The Stage Neftor 
complied with the requeft, and faid to a friend 
of Mr. Hendcrfon~" Sir, the young Gentle- 
" man has genius, but the jSrft thing lie does 



lyi TUJL LIFE 0? 

^* muft be to unlearn all that he has already 
^^ learned I until he does that, he cannot 
^^ learn to be a Player." Mr. Henderson 
puriued his advice, and fucceeded. 

On the loth of January, i777> Mr, Barry 
died. For fome confiderable time before his 
diffolution, he was affliftcd with violent fits of 
the gout, and his conftitution was very much 
impaired by his very irregular mode of life»— 
Mr. Barry was unqueftionably one of the moft 
pleafing tragic AAors that ever trod the En- 
glifh Stage. He owed a great deal of his fame 
CO the admirable inftruftions of Mr. Mackiin, 
who devoted a great deal of his time to the im- 
provement of his favourite pupil. In the He- 
ro and the Lover, Mr. Barry was inimitable : 
he was dignified in the one^ and impaffioned in 
the other. We have often heard Mr. Macklin 
declare, that Mr. Barry was far fuperior to Mr. 
Garrick in King Lear^ and Golley Gibber prefer- 
red his Othello to the Performancesof Bettcrtori, 
and Booth : indeed, every word that he fpoke in 
this wonderful Charafter, feemed to come from 
the heart. In Jaffier^ Cafialiv^ Rome^j FeraneSf 



CHARLES MACKLJl^. 2J2 

Pbocias, and Oreftesy he flood without a com- 
pietitor J and, in Alexander the Greats he gave 
new vigour to the wild flights of the mad hero* 
On his female auditors he made a very great im- 
preffion, by the foft melody of his love com- 
plaints, and the noble ardour of his courtftiip* 
In point of figure, he was undoubtedly the mod 
majeftic Aftor ever ittn on the Britilh Stage. 
He was tall without awkwardncfs, and hand- 
fomiC without effeminacy, w^th a voice both 
powerful and harmonious. Although deficient 
in literature, he was pofTcfrcd of an irrefifliblc 
power of perfuafion. He was very fond of 
giving magnificent entertainments, and always 
lived beyond his income i a fault too common 
among the gentlemen of his profeffion. He was 
celebrated for telling Irifh ftories with infinite 
humour. He was buried yi Wcflminfler Abbey. 

During this period, Mr. Macklin, as we 
have already mentioned, performed but fel- 
dom: in May, 1778, he played the charafter 
of Sir John BrutCy in the " Provoked Wifey'' 
and, in his perfonification of this Perfonage, 
renckred the Part more of a BrutCy than that of 

Vol. n. T 



474 THE LIFE Of 

a GentlemaUj which certainly was the author't 
idea. He, however, had to encounter the ill- 
nature of many enemies, who inftantly to<^ 
the alarm, upon his appearance in this new Cha- 
rafter, and did all in their power to depreciate 
his performance ; but his excellent manner of 
afting fet all their efforts at defiance, and tbeit 
cenjure'w2& his great eft praife. 

In the Summer of 1779, Mr^ Macklin being 
inclined, to vifit Leedsy Tork^ and Ediniurgbg 
entered into a correfpondence with the different 
Managers refpefting an agreement to perform 
certam Charaftcrs at the above places, for a 
certain number of nights^ — The following are 
extraffcs from Letters written by Mr^ Macklin 
on the occafioi. 

" To Tate Wakinfon, Efq,— York. 

*' Leedsy I am told, has too much methodifin 
" to be pleafed with the pafTions of a Shylock^ 
" or a Ricbardj though m imitation only. 

" If it may be made worthy of your interclt 
^y to fee me upon yow Stage, at the races> I 



feMARLES MACKLINi ^75 

^^ Ihall, about that time, be in London> and at 
^' leifurc to attend you. I fay worth your while^ 
** fgr that ought to be your firft policy, in 
*^ agreements with fuch Irirds of paifage as we 
** Londoners are/' 

Another Extraft.— To the famci 

^^ You higgle and higgle too much about an 
" agreement with mCi and talk of thirds and 
*^ halves of Houfes, as Jews (Shy locks) do in 
^^ 'Ghange-AUey, about fourths^ eighths, and 
^^ fixtcenths. I know nothing of thirds or 
"halves of Houfes, nor of charges of Houfcs, 
*^ nor half charges : you know them all, and 
^^ the receipts, as far as. experience can infonn j 
•^^ and you can likewife judge how far you want 
" my affiftance^ and how far my adting can 
^^ aflift and profit you> much better than I can 
*^ judge } therefore,- you can fay what yoi;r 
" receipts, or market, and your intereft can af- 
*^ ford to give me for the fervice you expeft : 
" let me know that : I will give you an anfwer ; 
*' and if your fum (for it mufl be a fum> and 
^* not any thmg upon chance) be worth my 

T2 



fji THE LIFE OF 

" while, I will attend you ; if it be not worth 
«* my trouble, the treaty ends at once. 

" The bufinefs I propofe to do with you at 
'* York is, Macbeth^ Richard, Merchant of 
*^ Fenicsy Love-a-U-Mode, JVfj/^,' and perhaps 
" Othello. I fay perhaps : fo that you fee the 
" whole point refts now upon your telling me 
" what certainty your intereft will give my 
« labour." 

Another ExtraSi. • 

" I wifh you would, in legible charafters, and 
" pl^n, clear. Common fenfe,kt me know upon 
'' what terms I may play with you at Edinburgh. 
*' I Ihall have a new Farce or two, and a new 
*' Comedy, with the London ftamp of appro- 
" bation. or difapprobation upon them, to offer 
\^ to the Edinburgh Audience, before whom 
*' I have, iincerely, the warmcft inclination to 
"appear: iox, Jans compliment, I think that 
" the pureft, that is, the mod correct Audience, 
'^ now of the Empire. Dublin, perhaps, from 
' ^"^ national partiality, or fair candour, may be 



CHARLES MACICLIII. 277 

" on a par with them, for the body of the Law 
'^ there, as at Edinburgh, is the bulk of the 
'* Audience : and iurely that is the moft fcn- 
*^ fible part of an Audience, if hot of the Na* 
^^ tion. 

*' Bad Houfes at both Theatres ; — Henderfon 
'* has not had half aHoufe yet — all the American 
" fFar — did I not fay fo it would be ? 

*' The Lord Chamberlain has refufed to li^ 
*^ cence a Comedy of mine, being feafoned too 
'^ highly reipefting venality, and the other 
" I have withdrawn, or rather fufpcndcd, for a 
** private rcafon." 

This corrcfpondence between Mr. Macklin 
and the Country Managers being unfatisfaftory, 
on account of the terms propofed by the latter, 
the treaty terminated at once, and Mr. Macklin 
relinquifhed his ideaof vifiting Edinburgh. 

The Comedy that Mr. Macklin alludes to, 
in hi§ Letter, as being refufed by the Licencer, 
was Tbf Man of the Worlds which, after fpm« 

T3 



a'ji THE LIFE 07 

obje6bionable paflages were expunged, by tkt 
Author^ was tolerated. 

We have copied the following particuiarsj, 

refpefting this fubjedt, from Mr. Macklin'5 
papers. 

^^ Tie Lord Chamberlain's Duty. 

^^ The bufinefs of the Stage is to correft vicci^ 
Vand laugh at folly ; and the Lord Chambcrr 
f ^ lain has a right to prohibit j but fuch prohi- 
^^ bition is not to arife from caprice, or enmityji 
^^dr partiality. What he prohibits muft be 
^' offenfive to virtue, morality, decency, or the 
^^ Laws of the Land. 

^* This piece is in fupport of virtvie, morality, 
" decency, and the Laws of the Land: it fatirizes 
^Vboth public and private venality, and repro- 
^' bates inorcfinate paffions and tyrannical conr 
^' du£t in a parent. 

^* The Lord Chamberlain, when called upon^^ 
f' ought in jufticc to point out the pafiages th^t 



■j 



GHARLBS MACKLIN, 279 

^f arc offcnfivc to Government or to indivi- 
^' dualsj or fociety at large. No man, m a pul>- 
^^ lie truft, fhould exercife his authority to the 
^^ injury of another, or to the privadon of any 
^^ public right,. 

" To feek the truth, to leparate right from 
*^ wrong, to determine according to found 
^* judgment, equity, andjufticc, is the duty of 
f' a Chamberlaiiij and the eiid of his truft. 

** My Copy being detained^ I afked the Dc* 
" puty why ? or by what right he deprived mc 
^' of my Copy ? For fome time he would not 
" afllgn any reafon. I told him, that I fhould 
" refort to the Laws of my Country for redrefs i 
^^ upon which he replied, that I fiwld but ex^ 
^' pofe myjelfy and that th^y^ kept the C$py hy the 
*' ^f^g^ of the Office. 

*' I told him, that I knew the Stage before 
*' that law exifted ; that it could not be by 
^' cxiftom ; that it was the firft time I had ever 
^' heard of an Author being deprived of his 
f * Copy 5 and that I fhould not fubmit to it, , 

T4 



! 



l8o THE LIFE OF 

*^ I alfo informed the Lord Chamberlain 
*^ that I had afted the Comedy in Ireland j that 
^^ they were as careful there as here about any 
" thing that afFefted Government j that the 
*^ Lords Lieutenants, who had fcen it, laughed 
" heartily at ic, and deemed the fatirc general^ 
'* pleafant, and juft. 

" Some little creatures in office, to make 
*' their court to Lords Lieutenants, pronounced 
" it ofienfive to Government j but their Maf- 
'' ters faw it again and again, and all the 
^' emotions they fhewed were laughter and 
'^ applaufe, 

*^ Let us fee what happened with refpeft to 
*\ CatOy for, like, my Play, great efforts were 
*' made to prejudice the people againft it 

" The firft Night of Cato. 

" During ihe rehearfal of the piece, the 
'* whole kingdom was in motion about the con- 
" fequence of it, and pregnant with expefta- 
^^ tions of various kinds. The cry was, that 



CHARLES MACKLIN. iSl 

** the Tories would not be able to pa6 along the 
♦* ftrcets in fafcty, after it was afted, the people 
<^ would be To incenied at the ingratitude and 
** injuftice of the Miniftry, for difgracing tl*e 
'^ G£NERAL,whohad,for fomanyyears, beaten 
f^ the enemies of Great Britain, and raifed her 
^^ to the higheft pitch of glory, 

" The Public were fet in motion. The 
** Whigs, inflamed with refentment, and fwcU- 
^^ ing with exultation at the thoughts of the 
^* Play, and the Tories, lowered by this cafyal 
" unpopularity, and a confcious felf-difgrace, 
^' all met at the Theatre on the firft night of 
'^ CatQ. 

" I have converfed with Authors^ Politicians, 
"Courtiers, Critics, Aftors, and the Thea- 
" trical Managers, viz. Booths fVilks^ a,nd C/^- 
" bery refpeding this affair, and they all de- 
" clafed, that, on the firft night of Cato's being 
" adbed, there was the moft awful and brilliant 
" Audience that had ever graced a Theatre, hot 
^^ that of Rome excepted. 



2Sa THE LIFE OF 

** Eviery circumftancc that could tonzt the 
^' ipiitt> command the attentum, or awaket^ 
•* the paflions of party criticifin, wsjs rcfonccj 
^' to on this important night* 

^' TIus was the Av^uft^ Age of England — 
^* almoft every man of felhionthcn went through 
' ^' the courfes of a Collegiate Education ; tjicy 
•* were all well verfed in polite literature. — 
*' Their drcfs, external manners ^d deport- 
•* menty had a formality, which, when in thd 
^* extreme, ftiflfened the figure, formalized its 
^' motions into the appearance of a folcmn cox- 
?' comb, and influenced even the fpcech into a 
^* ridiculous meafured flownefs of utterance. 
^V Their whole manner was cautious, circumi- 
^* fpeft, guarded by civility, and a conftant 
^* attention to accommodate, in whatever pub- 
^* lie or private aficmbly they met in. At ^ 
•^ that> time, commerce had not difFufed i» 
** wealth, and purfe -proud rudenefs amongft 
♦' the vulgar, induftrious, illiterate plebeians;^ 
^' as at preftnt. A Theatre then was not 
♦* difturbed with criticifms that rofe into ty- 
f^ ranny and eternal prohibition. Refenc- 



i 
J 



CHARLES MACRtlN. 2|j 

^' mcnt was fhcwn by the firft night'^ Audi- 
^^ cnccj and the Play was left to diat jpart of th* 
*^ Public, who IhoiUd fugcced them, to judg? 
^^ for themfclye^. 

f ^ But to return. All the foreign Ambafla- 
*' dors were grouped together in the Theatre. 
" The Whigs and the Tories were arranged 
*' on different fides, men and women. The 
^' Play written by a Whig Author. The Pro- 
" logue by a Papift (Mr. Pope) and a profcffed 
'^ friend to the Tories, and the Epilogue by a 
^' Whig Phyficianj^ yiz. Dr. Garth. 

*^ The Curtain is up. Enter Wilks^ a warm 
^' Whig, of high fpirit, and the beft Prologue 
^^ fpeaker, for addrefs^ pathos, point, and ipi^ 
^' rit, that ever trod the Eii^lifh Stage. Whigt 
*\ and Tories greet him in plaudits and accla*- 
^' mations, which they repeat to him, and-to 
^* the Author of the Prologue, at the iclofe of 
^' every fentiment. 

^^ From this account, you will not wonder, 
t^ that a deep folenm attention of the Audience 



284 !^HE tIF£ OF 

" to the Play was the moft memorable pheno- 
'^ mcnon of the night. 

" For, though the theatre was crowded with 
*' perfons the moft poliftied, and with the great 
" vulgar and the fmall, and though all were 
** inflamed with party fpirit, yet fuch is the 
** wonder, as many have informed me, that not 
*' an infult, an interruption, an indecency, nor 
" the leaft noife occurred, during the whole 
'^ night, except when energizing rapture, to 
" relieve the mind, burft forth in plaudits and 
** peals of acclamations, at the glorious ftrug- 
" gles of expiring liberty, fo admirably painted 
*^ in that Drama, 

*' The Play being over, the Tories joined in 
*^ applauding the Author to the (kies ; but the 
'* Whigs, not contented with the common 
" mode of joy, rcfolved to create fomcthing 
*^ new, that would look like a triumph. Their 
" fcheme of triumph was this -, four of them 
*' put five guineas apiece into a purfc, and 
" went round the boxes to every Whig, and 
^f colle^cd a large fum. They then went 



CHARLEI MACKLIK* ^S $ 

*^ into tht green-room, and there, in the name 
*' of all the Whigs of the Britifli Empire, gave 
" Mr* Booth, who played the pArt of CafOy the 
*' purfe, for having declaimed fo glorioufly in 
'' the caufe of expiring liberty* 

" This whim made a great noilfe in the world. 
" The coUeftion was magnified into a great 
" fum J and it did the Whigs great fervice 
** with the mobi who followed their coaches 
*^ the next day, and hallood them wherever 
*' they met them. 

*< The Tories were not pleafed at their friends, 
.** the mob, forfaking them thus, and therefore 
" refolvcd, in their turn, to fteal a march upon 
*' the Whigs. Accordingly, the next day, 
** they took as many of the Boxes of the The- 
•*' atre as they could monopolize, -and filled 
" them with their own friends, and, all through 
^' the Play, out-hallood and out-applauded tlie 
*'' Whigs by many degrees -, and, after the Play, 
" St. John, and fome more of the Tories, c(d- 
" lefted a purfe of guineas, that was thfee tinfues 
*' as valuable as that of the Whigs, went to 



ni^ TrtB LIFE OP 

^^ Booth, brought^ him upon the iStftgCi dnd 
*^ there gave him the purfe, in the name of all 
" his Majcfty's loyal fu.bje6ts, for having dc- 
*^ claimed fo well againft a perpetual Di6kator. 
** This manoeuvre produced the defired effeft; 
*' it brought the mob back to the Tories, and 
^' fixed the ftigma of a perpetual Diftator on 
" the Duke of MarlBofough, till the accefiion 
** of the Hoiife of Hanover j when the Duke 
•* returned from his voluntary exile, and> as it 
** were, made his triumphal public entry from 
*^ London-Bridge, through the City, to St* 
*' James's; 

" What was the con^quence of this danger^ 
" ous^ Playi fo much dreaded by Lord Oxford^ 
^' and fome more of the Minifters ? — ^Why^ all 
^^ the rage of the Whigs, a^inft the Tories and 
" the Minifters, was fWaUowed up and loft fot 
" the remainder of the winter, in crriticifms 
^ upon the merits and demerits of the Playi 
** and in th<i univerfal converfation concerning 
" which party, the Whigs or the Tories, felt 
^^ the g'reateft fmart from the virtuous doftrine 
^* of the Play^ Each party claimed a viftor/i 



6HARLES MACKLIK. &8^ 

** and the whole Public felt a virtuous fenfation 
*^ from the pathetic reprefcntation of the eflcn- 
** tial charafteriftics of their matchlefs con- 
*' ftitution. 

^^ Such are the natural tfft&^ of a Thcattei 
*' in free dates, at critical moments ; and fuch 
" is the ufe that Minifters may, and ought to 
*' make of a Theatre at certain conjundtures* 

** It ought to be the fccrcti the feemingly 
*' cafual - inftrument that Government ought 
** to friz?, at particular periods, unknown to 
*' the people. It is dangerous to give the peo* 
*^ pie an occafion to think, that fatire or ridi- 
** Gide is Ikut out from the Theatre, in every 
** vice or folly rcfpedting the Minifters, and 
** Gpcn to every mode of attack upon ^thd 
*' friends of liberty, or thofe who are called foi 

*^ Now, with regard, to my Comedy (Thcs 
*' Man of the World) is it not juft and falu- 
^f tary that the fubtilty, pride, infolence, 
*' cunning, and the thorough-paced villany 
** of a backbiting Scotchmai fhouid be rkli- 



28S ^ THE LIFE tW 

" culcd ? What a wretched ftate the Comic 
'* Mufe and the Stage would be reduced to, 
" were the prohibition of laughing at the cor- 
" ruption and other vices of the age to prevail ! 

" It would be the higheft abfurdity for a 
" Lord Chamberlain to fay to an author— 
" ^ You mull not inculcate> m any of your 
*' Plays, that corruption is to be laughed at, or 
" petitioned againft, for the one is a libel, and 
" the other is trcafon !* 

" Now, my play very ftrongly recommends 
" the higheft veneration for the Conftitution 
" of Great Britain ; it inculcates the love- of li- 
*' berty, and hatred of oppreflion j it fatirizes 
** the abufe of the law ; it reprobates a corrupt, 
^'/tyrannical, over-reaching, fawning, iocing 
*^ Scotchman, and extols the liberal, virtuous, 
*^ independent, honeft, confcientious conduft 
*' of hisfon. 

" It is a nice manoeuvre j and it befits a Mi* 
" nifter, in this Country, to know how to gain 
" the people, and how tp divert and baffle x 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 2^ 

** charge that may be brought ^gsdnft him. — 
*' Violence will never do, nor downright, Ihecr, 
^' obvious abufe, nor grave argument always. 
" Gj/i^^/ ridicule is the weapon ; conjtanf ndicvlc 
'* lofes its effect : to hU the mark is the ar^ — 
" one rifle-barrel fljot is worth twenty from an 
^^ ordinary piecey in the hands of an ordinary 
" mark/man.** 



C(>ap* X. 



THE Reader will recoiled, that, in the fpring 
of the year 1775, ^ ^^ \i2iyt before 
ftated, M r. Macklin entered into a new agree- 
ment with Mr. Harris, the manager of Covent- 
Garden theatre (of which Mr. Colman had, 
before that time, fold his fhare) without preju- 
dice to his claims for the time, which was two 
years, that he had not been permitted to per- 
form. Mr. Macklin afted under this new 
agreement, and four of the five conviftcd con- 

VOL. II. U 



990 ^ THE Lift or 

(pirat3ors paid their Ihane of h» coAs, md ptN 
formed the concEtioa of taking tickets, except 
as to the lOoL worth to be taken for the benefit 
of the managers, which die btter waved. But 
one of the confpirators (Wiltiam Auguftm 
Miles) having abfconded, and not paid his 
proportion of Mn Macklin'^ cofts, he was 
confiderably out of pocket m refpeflt of his 
cofts on the information 1 nor was the ftipula- 
tion as to tickef taking of any pecuniary ad- 
vantage to him or his daughter, for they were 
always aflured of crowded houfes on their be* 
nefit nights, which circumftancc Mr. Macklin 
ftated to the court, at the time he made his 
propofal of accommodation to the convifted 
dtfendants* • 

Mr. Macklin being advijfed that he was en- 
titled from the managers to his weekly falary, 
and to a compenfation for his two benefits, 
during the two feafons of his agreement, which 
he had not been permitted to play in; and be- 
ing advifed, that that agreement, refling as it 
did^ upon letters and other documents, which 
had never been reduced into technical fornix 



[, 



CHARLES MACKLIN. ,29! 

It was proper to bring a bill in equity for the 
difcovcry of the agreement. 

. In purfuance of this advice, Mr. Macklinj 
on the 17th May, 17763 filed a bill in Chan- 
cery againft Mr. Colman and the othet- mana- 
gers of Covent-Garden theatre, ftating the 
letters' and other documents relative to the 
agreement, and feveral other circumftances 
before mentioned, and praying a difcovery 
thereof 

In November, 1776, the defendant Col- 
man put in his anfwer, admitting the letters of 
treaty, and his having direfted his attorney to 
prepare a draught of fuch agreement, as be- 
fore mentioned, aad containing feveral ftipula- 
tions, to foitie of which Mr* Macklin, on fuch 
draft being fent to him, for his approbation, pb- 
jeded J and fetting forth that Mr. Colitian, being 

- Unwilling to enter mto any debate with Mr* 
Macklin, on his faid feveral objeftions, therefore 

- delivered the draft to his attorney^ together with 
Mr. Macklin*s laft propofalsi anddefired him td 
prepare a draft of articles as near to Mr. Mack* 

Ua 



a9.ft THf LITE Of 

lin's propofals as could be confiftcnt with the 
intcreft of the proprietors, and the ufual forms 
of the theatre ; that the fame might be fent 
to Mr. Macklin, and that, foon afterwards, 
Mr. Macklin began to play without any meet- 
ing having been brought about finally to con- 
clude the faid agreement. 

Mr. Colman concluded, in this anfwcr, that 
the riots in the theatre made Mr. Macklin's 
difcharge neceflary for the fake of peace. In 
his anfwcr, he feemed much to rely upon a 
letter, which. he had got into his cuftody, from 
Mr. Macklin to his daughter, in anfwer to a re- 
queft jFrom her to him to play for her benefit, 
as expreflive of his (Mr. Macklin) own opi- 
nion, that his difmiffion from, and reftoration 
to the theatre, did not depend on the will of the 
nianagers, but on the pleafure of the riotous 
party. — The following is a copy of the letter, 
which is above alluded to. — 

^^ My Dear, March 14th 1774. 

*' I could not anfwer your requeft fooncr 

" about your benefit. I have felt more pain 



CHARLES MACKLIN* 2^2 

** for you on that pointj than from all the lofles 
" and vexations bcfides that have arifen to us 
*^ from the malice of my pcrfccutors. My 
'^counfel being out of town, my anxiety 
*^ for your intereft, my eager inclination to 
** play for your benefit, and the fear of giving 
^' my enemies an advantage by a falfe ftep, 
" perplex me greatly. I think I need not 
" make ufe of any argument to convince you, 
** or thofe who know that your welfare has 

" ever had a place in my heart ^Youhavc a 

" right to it by nature, which right you have 
'* eftabliftied by a much dearer tie, in my opi- 
" nion, that of an irreproachable and amiable 
" conduft, which never has coft me a pang, or 
" even an apprehenfion. From hence, you 
^^ muft feel, that I do my own peace a fevcre 
" violence, when I deny myfelf the fatisfadion 
*^ of contributing to your emolument. But fo 
" it is, if I play at your benefit, I fhaU, as I 
" am mformed, be infulted again by my ene- 
" mies, and my kindnefs to you will be turned 
" into an argument againft me in my purfuit of 
" jufticc. 



%^ THE klFZ Of 

*' Under thefc apprchcnfions, my dear, ! 
^' cannot, as matters ftand at prefent, attempt 
*^ to aflift you at your benefit. The K)fs of 
" my not playing will no doubt be confidcra- 
<' bk — near 200I, — a great fum in a pdayer^s 
^* revenue. But confider what a difgrace k 
*' would be to you> to have a difturbance ^t 
^^ your benefit. Confider how it would dif- 
*' trefs your friends, and thofe who regard you, 
** and the whole audience, my perfecutors 
*^ excepted : and let me a<[ki, that I would notj^ 
** on your account, contribute to. fuch a dif- 
'* turbance, for any fum that a theatre would 
*^ afibrd. I was in hopes that thole who 
*^ have injured me would j^ before this time, 
^^ have feen the inhumanity of .their conduft, 
** have repented, and have taken fuch mea- 
^* fures as would have extenuated the odium of 
^^ their unparalleled, unprovoked, and cruel 
^< outrage — ^fuch a ftep would, in my opinioii, 
** have been pleafing to the public : and what 
'* men, guilty of fuch an enormity, owe to their 
^^ own reputation t — butfo far are fome of then^ 
" from fuch a humane meafure, that, with 
" menace and defiance, they have told me, that 
^^ I Ihall be purfued with greater refcntment 



CHARLES MACRXIN. 2^ 

«* than bcfort, for my having dared to meudon 
*^ foitic of their nailwes in a court of jofticc f 
*• jttirf, in lupport of thi* ffcfencmcnt, they plead 
«* the power of the law kfelf,^ which> they fey, 
^ entitles them, at aijy time, to hifs and cx- 
^ plode, fo as to drive whomfoever fbey 
" pieafe from; the fts^ by the law of cvStoat. 
'' This is a point that I Ihall not diipute with 
'* them: aK I can do is, to keep it out of thtiv 
** power, till it is fettled by thofe who have 
*' a right to ac^uft thofe matters* In the mean 
^* time, I advife yoy to writt to Mr. Colma»; 
*' let him know how you arc circumftanced, 
" or efnclofe my letter, and fend it to him; that 
^ will inform him thoroughly of your fituation 
^ and mine. Requeft hinsi to defer your night 
" to the Tjth of Aprily by which time,, ibme-^ 
*^ thiDig may happen* to be determined,, that 
^^ may give a &vourable turn to my affairs, fo 
" as to ejnaMe mc to pky for you, which' will 
^^ be a greates fatis&Aion to me, than either 
" my tongue or pen cap exprefs% 

*^ I am, my dear, 
'^ Mod aSe&ionately youf«, 
« To m& Macklm. '' Cbarhsr Macklms'' 



496 . THB LIFB OF 

Mr. Colman alfo ftated> in his anfwer^ that 
Mr* Macklin had contributed (o his difmiflion 
by paragraphs and efiays fent by him to the 
newfpapers; though the rioters did not at- 
tempt to prove or fet up any fuch fpedes of 
vindication or extenuation ; and that^ as upon 
the judgment, on the information, it was pro- 
pofcd to him to receive a fatisfa<5lion 
for his lofs, which he had thought proper to 
moderate, he ought not to feek any f&dsf^dion 
from the defendants, the managers. The an- 
fwers of the other defendants were nearly to 
the fame purpofe. 

On the ^th of May, 1777, the managers 
filed a bill againft Mr. Macklin, ftating 
the feveral matters infified upon in the lail 
mentioned anfwers, and praymg an injundbion 
to reflrain Mr. Macklin from bringing any ac- 
tion at law; which bill he anfwered, and, in his 
anfwer, admitted the letter of the 14th of 
March, 17741 but denied, that, when he wrote 
fuch letter, he knew, or believed, that the 
pubKq Would not have permitted him to play j 
nor that the faid letter, in Mr. Macklin's ap- 



CHARL£S MACKLIN^ 1^7 

prchcnfion, cxprcflfedany thing of the kind; but 
Mr. Macklin faid, that two of the rioters had 
given out, as he was informed and believed, 
that they would hifs him, if he performed S.t 
his' daughter's benefit, becaufe he had pre- 
fumed, to proceed at law againfl: them -, and that, 
although Mr. Macklin was deiirous ofadtingfor 
his daughter's benefit, yet he was particularly 
defirous that no difturbance fliould happen at- 
it, and therefore, ^nd not from any apprc- 
henfion that the public would not permit him 
to aft, he wrote the faid letter, in hopes that 
Mn Colman, on feeing the fame, would have 
poftponed his daughter's benefit onto the 27th 
of April, 1774, by which time he hoped that 
his difference with the rioters would have been 
fettled. 

In Hilary Term, 1778, Mr. Macklin filed 
an amended bill againfi: the managers, ftating, 
amor^ other things, that Mr. Macklin and 
his daughter, foon after the 14th of March, 
1774, made feveral applications for his being 
permitted to a& for her benefit, and informed . 
the minagers that the very men, who had been 



ag$ TKS LiFi or 

atigiy at Mr. Macklin's going to kw (meaning 
the information in the court- of King's Bench) 
had fent feveral meflagcs to him^ expreffi^e of 
tlftir defire to fee him agsmi upon the ftage, and 
that they and th^ir friends would applaud hin». 
In coniequence of whkh, Mr. Macklin wrote 
ta Mr. Coknan the following kttcr. 

« Sir, 
" About three weeks ago, I deiired Mife 
•* Macklin to inform you, that the few peopjc 
*^ who had declared their refeniment agasnft 
*' me,^ for my having laid the injuries, that 
" they had done me before tlie ccMsrt of King's 
^ Bench, had repented of that declaration^ 
^^ and had dropped all refeniment od that and 
"every other account rcfpefting me; that 
^' they wilhed to fee me re-inftated in my pro- 
^^ feffion ; that they would attend my appear- 
*^ ance on the ffage, with aH their friends, to 
*' applaud me ; and now. Sir, by their deftre, 
** I aflure you of the truth of that information 
^ given to you by Mifs Macklin, refpe^ing 
•*^ thofe people; and farther, that they continue 
^* in the feme amicable difpofition: aod. Sir, 



f 



CHARLBS MACKXI^, ' ft99 

** as far as I have been able to coUcft the fcnfe 
*^ of the public upon my cafe, there is but one 
«' opinion about it, which is, that I have been 
■^^ cruelly treated, and that they are ready to 
" (hew that opmion by applauding me, when- 
^* ever I return to the ftage. 

" Upon the whole. Sir, it appears to me, 
*' and to all who know the ftate of my being 
" driven from the ftage, — and the opinion of 
*' the public upon it is, that you have been, 
" and are now, the only impediment to my rc- 
^* turning to my profeiSon, and the fingle per« 
*^ fon that prevents me from^ playing for Mifs 
<• Macklin's benefit — as the other proprietors 
^^ have no objection to either. — Confider, Sir, 
^^ the advantage that would arife to youj and 
. " to the other proprietors, by my being rein- 
" ftated for tke remainder of the feafon; — Firft, 
« by your allowing me to take a benefit, you 
^ would be relieved from my claim upon yo«^ 
" for that article of my agreement : the lofs of 
" which I rate » aool. and, by my playmg a 
*' few nights, for the proprietors, probably, 
^' the profits would amount to as much as 



300 TH£ LIFE OF 

^* would difchnrge my demand for the rc- 
'' mainder of my falary, which is now due, 
'^ and for that which will be due to me at the 
" end of the feafon : about which profits, if 
" you have a doubt, I here promife to accept 
" of whatever profit ihall arife from my adting 
" between this and the clofc of the feafon, as 
" a fill! fatisfaftion for the remainder of my fa- 
^' lary this year. And fure. Sir, you muft 
" think this a rcafonable propofal, as you can- 
" not exhibit any plays this feafon, or enter- 
" tainments, that can produce a profit equal to 
" my demand, which will be above 300I. By 
" this meafure, you will fall into the fentiments 
" and wifhcs of all who think that the de- 
" priving me of my livelihood was an outrage- 
** ous and unwarrantable proceeding; you will 
" quiet the minds of that part of the public, 
" that have been difturbed by this outrage ; 
** and, inftead of injuring Mifs Macklin, by 
" your refufing, you will do her jufticc by 
" permitting me to play for her benefit. 

. "I am, Sir, 
« To G. Colman, Efq. '' Charles MackHn.'* 



CHARLES MACRLIN. JOI 

Mr. Macklin, alfo, by his .amended bill, 
charged, that, notwithftanding his candid offer, 
contained in the above letter, Mr. Colman 
rcfufed to permit him to appear on the ftage, 
not only during the ren^ainder of that feafor^ 
but alfo for the whole afting feafon of the year 

i774v- 

In Eailer Term, 1779, the mahagers filed 
a long amended bill, which fecmed to have 
been filed merely for thepurpofe of delay, as 
it chiefly infifled upon a difcovcry from Mn 
Macklin, of fome publications in the ncwfpa- 
pers, written by him, which they reprcfented 
to be of an inflammatory nature, and to, have 
contribyted to the riots in the theatre, . but 
which publications Mr. Macklin had admitted 
in his former anfwer to their bill. This laft 
bill of the managers alfo prayed an injundlion 
againft Mr, .Macklin's bringing any adtion at 
law. 

Mr. Macklin finding himfelf, after a period 
of nes^r five years in the court of Chancery, and 
at an expcncc of near aool. in a .ftatc of litiga- 



3Ci THI Ll'Ti of 

tion and confufion^ without having advanced 
towards his objeft, became delirous of being 
well advifcd> both upon the merits of his cafcj 
at law^ or in equity^ and the prudential fteps 
to be taken by him in the then ftage of the 
pleadings in Chancery* He aecordmgly di- 
fefted his folicitor to draw up a cafe for the 
opinion of counfcl> (the chief circumftances of. 
•which we have juft now ftated) and the fol- 
lowing queries were fubmitted to the confidera- 
rion of Mr. Kenyon, (now the excellent Chief 
Juftice of the King's Bench) who gave the fob- 
fequent opinion^ 

Queftion ift» — " You will pleafe to advife^ 
" whether, under the whole of the circum* 
** ftances above ftated, Mr. ' Macklrn has a 
^' right to recover againft the managers, not* 
" withftanding they contend that the agrce- 
^* ment was never finally fettled i that they 
** were obliged to difmifs him, to reftorc 
" peace to the .theatre ; that he has ha4 
** compcnfation b the King*s Bench, and the 
" other defences fct up by them in the abov^ 
*' proceedings inCbancery,and what is thepropet 



CHA&LSS MACKLtH» jOJ 

^'f mode for Mr. Macklin to adopt for fuch re* 
** covery, cither in law or equity*** 

Lord Kenym's Opinurn^ 

« I have repeatedly perufed this cafe with^ 
*< attention, and I am of opinion, that Mr*. 
*^ Macklin has a right to recover the annual 
^^ payment ftipulated by the managers to be 
** paid to him- His proper courfe of proceed* 
" ing, as it appears to me, is by A&ion at 
'^^ law. The defences fet up only prove that 
" the managers have been fufierers by the vio- 
*' lence of the rioters 5 but I do not think they 
^< can be applied as legal or equitable defences 
" againft Mr, Macklin's demand.*' 

Queftion 2d, — " You will pleafc to advi& 
" Mr. Macklin on the proper ftcps to difea- 
^^ tangle himfclf from the pleadingsinChancery, 
^' in any event, cither of the merits of the cafe 
" being clear as againft the managers, or doubt- 
" ful, or on their fide, and to advifc him 
" generaUy upon this cafe/' 



J04 THE LIFE OF 

Lord Kenyon's Opinion. 

^* I think Mr. Macklin had bcft abandon the 
*' equity caufe, and try his fortune at law, 
*' where I think the cafe will be in his favour. 
" However, as much expcrtce has been in- 
** curred in the equity caufe, and very much 
'^ time wafted, I fhould be glad if forae other 
** ftep was taken, before the courfe of pro- 
" ceedings Ihallbe altered in the manner I 
« advife." 

LmcolnVinn, June 6, 178 1. 

In purfuance of this advice, Mr. Macklin 
brought an adtion againft the proprietors of 
Covent-Gardcn theatre, to recover the amount 
of his arrears. The caufe being referred to 
arbitration, Mr. Macklin obtained an award in 
his favour for 500L 

Mr. Macklin, having wafted a great deal of 
his time, and expended a great deal of his pro- 
perty, in the recovery of this fum, and being 
defirous of convincing the public that his love 
of juftice, and not any pecuniary compenfation, 
was his only obje£t, as foon as the caufe was 



CHARLES MACKtlV. 305 

decided in his favour, took Mr. Harris (the 
prefent worthy patentee of Covent-Gardcn) 
by the hand, and made him a prefent of the 
500L requeuing, at the fame time, that all their 
pdl differences might be buried in eternal ob- 
livion. Thus ended Mr. Macklin's law fuit> 
and thus were the public convinced of the ge- 
nerous qualities of his mind, and of the good- 
nefs of his natural difpofition. 



Cfjap* XI. 



BEING now difengaged from all litigation 
whatever, Mr. Macklin beftowed his 
whole attention on his comedy of the Man of 
the Worldy which he had rehearfed under his 
. own immediate «are and infpeftion, and which 
was performed (for the firft time on the En* 
glifh ftage) at Covent-Garden, on the loth 
of May, 1781, to a very brilliant and crowded 
audience. 

Vol. n. X 



306 THE Lit! Of 

The very long and laborious part of Sir 
Pertinax Mac^Sycopbant, was fupporced by 
Mr. Macklin with a fpirit and vigour that 
aftonilhed every body; and the chara£ber of 
Lady Rodolpba was inimitably well perform- 
ed by the late Mrs. Pope. 

During the firft night of its reprefentation, 
feveral perfons, from motives of jealoufy and 
enmity^ did all in their power to interrupt the 
performance i which the author perceiving, 
came forward* and addreiled the audience to the 
following effeft: 

" Ladies and Gentlemen, 

" I ftand here in a predicament fomewhat 
** unufual: as an author and an a6tor. If it be 
" but in compliment to the feelings of the for- 
*' mer, I entreat, that, as the latter, I may be 
'* heard before I am condemned." 

This fenfible and well-timed addrefs, pro- 
duced the defired cffeft i all party oppofiti<m 



CHARLES MACKllN. 307 

Wa^ completely overcome, and the comedy 
was received with unbounded applaufe. 

Indeed, the Man of the Worldy for boldnels 
of fatire, ftrength of humour, and originality of 
charafter, may be compared to any dramatic 
piece, that has been written within thefe laft 
fifty years, and ranks fuperior tomoftofthc 
modern comedies. 

However, the feafon being far advanced, 
the play 'was performed only a few nights, but 
was rcprefented very often the enfuing feafon, 
to great houfes. 

In the fummer of 1781, Mr* Macklin fuf*- 
tamed a very heavy lofs by the death of his 
daughter, who had retired from the ftage a 
few years before* 

She died at Brompton, on the 3d. of July, 
in the 48th year of her age. For fome years 
before her death, Mifs Macklin enjoyed but a 
very indifferent ftate of health. She went of- 

X2 



2CA THE LIFE Ol 

ten into breecho^ and> by buckling her gar« 
ter too tightly, a large fwclling took place in 
her knee, which, from motives of delicacy, 
flie would not fuffer to be examined, till it had 
tncreafed to an alarming fize. This fleihy ex-» 
crefcence was, however, cut off, and Mifi 
Macklin underwent the operation with great 
£rmnefsi but fhe never after regained her 
former ftrcngth. Though contented in her 
fituation, and never under the neceflity or in- 
clination of rambling, her life is riffued with 
fome very extraordinary circumftances, unufual 
in the life of an adrefs. 

Her qualifications producing her a very 
confiderable falary, with a very genteel ac- 
quamtance, fhe humbly fat herfelf do>Vh to the 
quiet enjoyment of them, without huntmg af- 
ter new gratifications. She was unfaihionable 
enough, too, to be religious 5 and, in confe- 
quence, to contraft a nunAer of out-of-the- 
way notions, for which fee had often eScpcn 
rienced the ridicule of the Green-Rqom. She 
went to her devotion oftener dian flie wem to 
rehcarfali Penurious in her pleafures, though 



CHARLE9 MAGKI.IN: 3^9 

benevolent to diftrcfs, and confidering the 
ftagc metely *' as it holds the mirror up to 
Nature," her pradtice was a conftant example 
of her theory. There was another ftill more 
extraordinary trait in her charafter than all 
this: — though ihe had been upon the ftage for 
fcveral years, and, on her entrance, confidered 
as one of the fineil and moft accompUfhed wo- 
men in England — though befet with folicitation^ 
and cxpofed to the force of bad ei^mple, fiif- 
picion had never once lit upcm her fame, and 
the diffipated world were reduced to the nc- 
ceffity of afcribing her celibacy to a coldnejs of 
conftitution. Her charaftcr as an aftrefs flood 
in 'a no lefs favourable point of view. Endued 
with fo many acquired rcquifites, Nature had 
not been backward in lending her afliftance, and 
Ihe ihone a particular favourite both of ThaJia 
and Melpomene. 

The following is^ a copy of Mifs Madelines 
will. 

" In the name of God, Amen. — This is the 
•* laft will and tcftament of me, Mary Macklin, 
X3 



3IO THE LIFE OF 

<* fpinftcr, late of Grcat-Quecn -Street, Lin- 
" coin's Inn Fields, but now rcfiding at Bromp- 
*' ton, in the county of Middlefcx. 

" I defirc to be decently interred, in the 
*' parifli of Hampton, in the county of Mid- 
^' dlefcx, at the difcretion of my executrix and 
*' executor, herein after named. And I give 
*' and bequeath unto Sarah Savill Jenkins, 
'* of Great-Queen-Strect aforefaid, otherwife 
** called Sarah Savill, and to John Rittfon, of 
*^ the fix clerk's office, Chancery-Lane, in the 
'^ faid county of Middlefex, Gentleman, and 
'^ to their executors and adminiftrators, the 
^'^ fum of two thoufand pounds, bank annuities, 
** now lately reduced, three per cents, and 
" are now (landing in my name, in truft, in 
" the firft place, to fell and difpofe of fo much 
" thereof as may be neccflary to pay and dif- 
*' charge all my juft dcbts^ funeral expences, 
** and the charges of proving this my will; and 
*' alfo to difcharge the Jegacy of fifty pounds, 
*^ herein after mentioned, (and alfb any other 
' ** legacies, which I may think proper to give, . 
♦^ by any codicil;| or other writings, figned by 



CHARLES MACKX.IN. 3II 

^* mc) and after payment ofmy debts, funeral 
" expences, and the faid legacy, v and fuch fur- 
** ther legacies as I may hereafter direft ; then, 
*^ upon further truft, out of the dividend, in- 
*' tereft, and produce of the ftock, which fhall 
*^ be remaining unfold, dfter fuch payments as 
*' aforefaid, as the fame fhall become due, and 
** fhall be received, to pay unto my old and 
^* faithful fervant, Jane Drewe, who has, from 
" my infancy, lived with, and now lives with 
'' me, for and during the time of her natural 
" life, the clear yearly fum of thirty-five pounds 
" of lawful money of Great-Brit^j and to be 
" payable to her, during her life, by half-yearly 
^^ payments, the firfl payment to be made at 
" the end of fix calendar months after my de- 
" ceafe, and after payment of the faid annuity, 
*' then to pay the refiduc and remainder of the 
" intereft and dividend, of or which fhall be 
" received from the faid remaining ftock, or 
" bank annuities, reduced, after a deduftion of 
" the faid thirty-five pounds annuity, into and 
" for the proper ufe and benefit ofmy father, 
" Charles Macklin, during the time of his na- 
^^ tural life -, and, m cafe my faid father, Charles 
X 4 ^ 



312 THB LIFE Of 

**\Macklin^ Ihall furvivc the faid Jane Drcwc, 
" then upon truft, after the death of the faid 
" Jane Drewe, to pay the whole mtercit of^he 
" faid remaining ftock of bank annuities, after 
" the deduftions aforefaid, unto my faid father, 
*' Charles Macklin, during his natural life -, but 
'^ in cafe my faid father, Charles Macklin, fhail 
** happen to die in the life time of the faid Jane 
" Drewe, then I dircdt my truftees, my execu- 
" trix and executor, to fet apart and appropri- 
^^ ate fo much of the faid bank annuities as will 
" be fufikient to anfwer the growing payments 
" of the faid annuity, of thirty-five pound* a 
" year, unto the faid Jane Drewe, for her life, 
*' as aforefaid ; and after fetting apart the fame, 
*' then to transfer the fum of two hundred 
" pounds of the faid ftock, or bank annuities, 
*' after the deduftions aforefaid, unto my friend, 
*' Anna Maria Haines, of Great-Ruffel-Street, 
** in the parilh of St. Paul, Covent-Garden, in 
*f the County of Middlefex, fpinfter, to whom 
" I do hereby give the fame, and alfo to tranf- 
" fer unto my friend, Mary Blittenberg, of 
*' Oxeridon^-Strcet, to and for her own ufe, this * 
^' like fum of two hundred pounds ftock^ otbtjr 



CHARLES MACKLIN. JIJ 

*^ part of the faid bank annuities, to whom I 
** do hereby give and bequeath the fame, and 
«* the refiduc of the faid ftock, which ftiall not 
*^ be fo fct apart to anfwer the faid annuity, 
" and alfo the dock which fhall be fo fct apart 
" to anfwer the faid annuity, from and after the 
« ddath of the faid Jane Drewe, I give and bc- 
^* queath unto the faid Sarah Savill Jenkins, 
" othcrwife called Sarah Savill, to and for her 
** own fole and proper ufe and benefit : And in 
^' cafe my faid father ftiail furvive the faid Jane 
" Drewe, then I will and dired that ^ faid 
" fums of two hundred pounds, an^ twq. hun- 
" dred pounds, ilock, fhall be transferred to 
^' the faid Anna Maria Haines and Mary BUt- 
** tenberg, immediately after his death, and all 
^* the refidue of the faid flock I give, immedi- ^ 
" atcly after his death, to the faid Sarah SaviH 
*' Jenkins, othcrwife called Sarah Savill, (ot 
" her own proper ufe and benefit. I give and 
*^ bequeath unto the faid Jane Drewe, in cafe 
" fhc fhall be living with me at the time 
^^ of my death, the further fum of fifty 
*^ pounds, of lawful money of Great Britain, 
" over and above the faid annuity of thirty-five 



314 THE LIFE OF 

** pounds bcforcgiven to her, and which legacy 
" of" fifty pounds, I will and direft Ihall be 
** paid to her, by my executrix and executor, 
" within one month after my deccafe, out of 
*' the faid two thoufand pounds bank annuities. 
** Alfo I give and bequeath unto the faid Jane 
" Drcwe,^ in cafe ftie Ihall be living with me at 
*' my deceafe, the ufe of all my kitchen furni- 
*' ture and linen, together with the yellow bed 
*' fhe lately flept in, in Great-Queen-Street, 
." and alfo the furniture belonging to that apart- 
** mcnt, in which fuch bed is, for and during 
^* the term of her natural life, and after her de- 
'^ ceafe, I give and bequeath the fame unto 
*« Sufannah PufF, of the parilh of Saint Mar- 
" tin in the Fields, Alfo I give and bequeath 
*' unto the faid Jane Drewe, all my wearing 
'^ apparel, and alfo my common filver tea- 
" fpoons and tea- tongs j alfo I give and be^ 
" qucath unto th^ faid Mifs Anna Maria Haines, 
" my filver-plated cofFee-pot, and to Mrs. 
" Waflibourne, of Edmonton, in the county 
" of Middlefex, my filver-plated inkftand. 
" AH the refl: and refidue of my eftate, of what 
" nature, kind, or quality foever, not herein 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 315 

** or hereby before difpofed of, I give and be- 
*^ queath unto the faid Sarah Savill Jenkins, 
5^ otherwife called Sarah Savillj to and for her 
" own fole proper ufe and benefit, and I hereby 
*' nominate and appoint the faid Sarah Sayill 
** Jenkins, otherwife called Sarah Savill, and 
*' John Rittfon, executrix and executor of this 
*^my wiD, which I declare to be my laft will, 
*' hereby revoking all former and other wills, 
*' by me at any time heretofore made. In 
*' witnefs whereof, I have hereunto let my 
" hand and feal, and alfo to a duplicate of the 
'^ fame tenor and date, this twenty-feventh day 
*' of May, in the year of our Lord one thoufand 
^' fcven hundred and eighty-one. 

^' Mary Macklin.'* 

" Signed, fcaled, publifhed, and declared, by 
*' the above-named teftator, as and for her lall 
" will and teftament, in the prefence of us, who, 
" in her prefence, and at her requefti have 
*^ hereunto fubfcribed our names, as witnefles,, 
^^ the name ' Sufannah,' in the thirty-fixth line^ 
** being wrote on an erafure, 

*' James Jones. 
" Henry Roffcr/' 



3l6 TH£ LITE OF 

Ci)ap. XIL 

IN the beginning of the year 17S5, Mr* 
Daly, the Dublin manager, came from 
Ireland to engage performers for the Smock- 
alley theatre. To fecure Mr. Macklm was his 
principal objeft, and he accordingly made him 
very advantageous propofals ; but Mr. Mack* 
Im, not chufing to play with the Dublin ma- 
nager, the enfuing after feaibn, on fhares, de- 
clined the offer of Mr. Daly on that point, 
obferving, at the fame time, that he had no ob- 
jeftion to perform at his theatre for a certain 
fum, viz. fifcy pounds per night, and a clear 
benefit. This was a very^ confiderable falary, 
but Mr, Daly, being determined to procure fo 
valuable an adtor as Mr. Macklin, at any ex- 
pence,> acceded to' the propofition of the latter^ 
and the bargain was concluded, 

I MrJ Macjtlin now made preparations to fct 
put for Ireland, and, for fear any accident Ihould 



CHARLBS MACKXIN. 317 

fae£d him, which might naturally be cxpefted 
at his then very advanced ftage of life, fettled 
all his worldly Concerns previous to his de- 
parture. 

Among other things, Mr. Macklin wrote 
the following letter to his banker, which 
breatheg the tendercft affcftion for, and beftows 
the highefl: pofTible encomium upon, his wife 
(the prefcnt Mrs, Macklin) than whom wc 
know not a more amiable, a more worthy, or 
a more dcferving woman. But the letter will 
(peak for itfelf. 

" Dear Sir, April 14, 1785. 

^' Whatever property I have in this life, I 
** have, by will, bequeathed to my wife, Eliza* 
*' beth Macklin, and, were it as great as any 
** fubjeft, in this /ealm enjoys, her affeftion, 
'' order, fobriety, and good morals, as a wife, a 
** mother, and a friend and neighbour, fhc 
•*' would dcfcrve it. Therefore I hope, that 
*^ you M^, on my deceafe, pay her whatever 
'^^ balance you may have in my fevour. I wilh 



3l8 THE tIPt OF 

** you well in health, and prolpcrity in yotif 
** dealings, and am, 

" Dear Sir, 
" Your obedient humble Servant^ 
'' To T. Coutts, Efq. " Charles Macklin:* 
"Banker, Strand/* 

Mr. Macklin arrived in Dublin in the month 
of May, and foon after performed Sbylock and 
Sir Arcby Macfarcajmy to an uncommonly 
crowded audience* His next performance was 
Sir Pertinax Mac*Sycopbanty in the Man of the 
IForldi and he fupported this very long and 
laborious part, with a chaflenefs, a fpirit, and 
a vigour that aftonifbed every body* Mrs* 
Egerton was the Lady Rodolpbay and fhe fuf- 
tained this Angular charafter with infinite 
ability. 

Never was anaftor more carefled or refpeAed 
in Dublin than Mr. Macklin* He was vi- 
fited daily by perfons of the firft rank, and 
conftantly dined at the tables of the moft emi- 
nent and diftinguifhed charafters. In ftiort, 
he was the wonder and admiration of the fifter 



CHARLES MACKLIK. JIJJ 

kingdom, Mr. Macklin's faculties continued 
undiminilhed, in a moft furprifing manner, to 
a very protfadted period of life. He per* 
formed feveral nights, this feafon, at Smock- 
alley theatre, with uncomm6n ability, and 
gained wonderful applaufe. He topk a benefit 
on the 22nd of Auguft, and was advertifed for 
Sir Pertinaxy in the Man of the Worlds and Sir 
Arcbyy in Love-a-la-Mode. This was an ar* 
duous undertaking, for a man at his time of 
life, Mr. Macklin was refolved, however, to 
attempt it. As foon as the doors of the play* 
houfe were opened, the theatre was filled ia 
every part, and his Excellency the Lord Lieu- 
tenant, and feveral members of the court> 
graced the ftage and other boxes. Mr. Mack- 
lin went through thefirft aft with great Ipirit, 
but was taken fuddenly ill in the middle of the 
fccond, and was obliged to be aflifted off the 
ftage. The audience being informed that 
Mr. Macklin was fo much indifpofcd, that 
he could not appear again on the ftage that 
night, very politely accepted pf Mr. Georgi 
Dawjon as his fubftitute, and the entertain- 
ment of the evening palled off without any fur- 



jaO THE Lift QW 

thcr interruptionr The concern and anxfcty 
nianifeftcd by the audience, on the occafion of 
Mr. Macklin's illnefs, reflcfted the higheft 
credit on their humanity, and afforded no 
fmall tcftimony of the cftimation in which 
the father of the ftage ftood. This was the 
firft time that the memory of Mr, Mack- 
lin began to betray fymptoms of decay ' and 
imbecility. When he was drefling at the 
dieatre, on his benefit night, he was feized 
with a kind of lhivering> which lafted feveral 
minutes. He alfo complained of a pain in the 
head, and, when he firft went on the ftage, he 
declared ,thac his fight was fo much afFe6i:edi 
and dazzled, as it were> that he could fcarcely 
diftinguiih the people in the pit. In a few 
moments he recovered himfelf, and went thro* 
the firft act tolerably well j but fhe fhivering 
fit returning again, he felt a total incapacity to 
proceed with his part. In a few days, how- 
ever, he recovered, and appeared in public, to 
the no fmall joy and fatisfadion of his numer- 
ous friends and admirers* 



. CHARLES MA.CKLIN. ^21 

Mr. Macklin having reaped a very profit- 
able harvcft in Dublin, returned to London in 
the month of iSeptember, and foon after made 
his appearance at Covcnt-Garden theatre, in the 
charafter of Shy lock, and was greeted by the 
audience, by loud and repeated plaudits. 

About this time, Mr. Macklin had fome in- 
tention of writing an hiftory of the ftage, than 
whon^ we apprehend, no man could be more 
capable j but, unfortunately, he never carried 
his defign into execution. We have copied the 
following hints concerning a plan for writing 
an hiftory of the ftage from the veteran's me- 
morandum:^. 

^* History of the Stage. . 

** The materials for fuch a work are very 
«' few, and thofe, that may be had, are fo 
*' fcattered, and of fuch a trifling nature, as 
^* not to be worth the coUeftor's pains. The 
** beft materials are to be had from the drama- 
^' tic writings. Judgment may find matter to 

Vol. II. Y 



322 THB LIFE OF 

" work upon, from thcm> concerning the ftatc 
'5 of the drama, and the manners of the times, 
" in different periods of dramatic writers j but 
" their works will afford but little or no intcl- 
" ligence rcfpcfting the internal policy or 
" government of the Englifh ftage, ^ 

" The nature of man, the ftate of letters,^ of 
'^ the drama, in England m particular^ and 
" in Europe in general — the manners of difibr- 
" ent ages -and times — the religious, martial, 
** commercial, and political ftatc of each coun- 
<' try, and how they affected letters w general, 
" and the ftage in particular : — thefe are the 
*' materials, which guide the judgment to pro* 
*' bable conjefture concerning the internal po- 
" licy of the theatre, the revenue of it, and the 
" rank, art, manners, knowledge, and public 
" eftimation of the aftors. 

** I think to colka the bcft materials that 
" can be had from the egrl^eft period^ and to 
" enter into a compar^iyc view of the ftatc of 
" other theatres—the manners, policy, reli- 
*' gion, commerce^ literature,. &c. of Europe, 



CHARLES MACKIIN. J^J 

^^ down to Gibber's time— and then extrafting 
** what is hiftorical, critical, and valuable in 
** his book, with remarks upon his omiffions, 
" and fupplying them — and with obfervations 
'* upon his judgments, himfelf, his writings, 
'• and his contepiporary aftors — and then to 
" begin the hiftory of the Englifh ftage, where 
'* he left ofF— would be a (ketch, if well exe- 
'* cuted,. highly worthy of public notice, 

" Why the hiftory of commerce muft be 
** taken into this work, is to (hew that all the 
*' at*ts of luxury depend upon it, and all the 
** high prices of pro vifions, and all the necef- 
" faries of life. Luxury affefts the foot fol- 
" dier, the labourer, . the enfign — while it con- 
*' tributes, at the fame time, to augment the 
** income of players, fiddlers, dancing-mafters, 
^^ and footmen, who ever will have their fhare 
" of luxury, and the firft of it." 

Mr. Madklin, as if confcious that his abilities 
were decaying, had now withdrawn himfelf 
from the ftage for feveral months, and was not 



3^4" THE LIFE OF 

inclined to perform any more i but, being prclfed 
by his friends, and finding himfclf tolerably 
well in health, he complied, and was publicly 
announced for the charafter of Sbylock, on the 
loth of January, 1788. The houfe was 
crowded in every part, and his performance 
exhibited a wonderful fhare of fpirit and vigour, 
confidering his advanced age, till the fccond 
aft, when his memory failed him again* This 
circiimftance afFefted him very much, and, 
confcious of his defefts, he ftepped forward, 
and, with a folemnity perfeftly fuited to the 
occafion, addreffed the audience nearly in the 
following words. 

" Ladies and Gentlemen, 

" Within thefe very few hours I have been 
** feized with a terror of mind I never in my 
*' life felt before 5 it has totally deftroyed my 
" corporeal as well as mental faculties. I muft 
** therefore requeft your patience this night : 
" a requeft which an old man may hope is not 
" unreafonable'. Should it be granted, you 
" may depend that this will be the laft nighty 
" unleft my health Ihall be entirely re-cftab- 



CHARLES MACICLIN. 325 

*' Klhed, of my ever appearing before you in 
** fo ridiculous a fituatipn." 

As foon as Mr. Macklin had finilhed thi( 
afFe&ing addrefs, the moft enthufiaftic burfts 
of fympathctic applaufe filled every part of 
the theatre, and wrought an amazing eflfedt 
upon his memory, for he foon after recovered 
himfelf, and the Play went on with applaufe to 
the end. It was generally fuppofed that Mr. 
Macklin would not appear upon the ftagc any 
more ; but, we have to lament, that the fre- 
quent interruptions he met with in the courfe 
of his profeflion, the heavy loffes he fuftained, 
and the narrownefs of hiscircumftances, brought 
about the neceffity of his again reforting to the 
theatre for a fubfiftence« 

- On the 28th of November, 1788, Mr, 
Macklin loft his recoUedion to fo high a de- 
gree, 'in the performance of Sir Pertinax Mac- 
Sycophant y that 'he was compelled to addrefs 
the audience again, and inform them, that, 
iinlefe he found himfelf more capable, he fhould 



326 TBI LIFX OF 

not tg^n venture to folicit their attention. — 
What a pity it was to behold the venerable fa- 
ther of the ftage, who had fo highly enter- 
tained the public^ for many years, and who 
had laboured all his life time with afliduity and 
induftry, ftniggling at once with poverty of 
circumftance, and imbecility of intcUcft.— 
However, fo it was ; but Mr. Macklin's mind, 
like the flaflies of an expiring taper, difplayed 
iigns of vigour to the very end of his theatrical 
career. 

In the month of February, 1789, he perfornv- 
ed Sbyleck and Sir Archy Macjarcafmy at Go- 
vcnt-Garden theatre, on the fame night, with 
amazing fpirit, and with great applaufe ; and, 
a few months after, fuftained the charaSier of 
Sir Pertinax Mac-Sycofbanty in the Man of 
the fVorldj which part is not lefs, according to 
the theatrical language, than thirty-fix lengths, 
each length being forty-four lines, including 
the cues. 

Mr. Macklin played the very laborious 
part o(Sir Pertinaxy at a time when he was in 



CHAKLiS MACtCLlN. ^%J 

his one hundredth year^ widi a vigour and 
a fpirit that aftoniihed every beholder,— His 
laft attempt upon the ftage was on the 7th of 
May, 1789, in the charafter of Sbylock^ for 
his 0^ benefit. He went through the firft 
9£ty but not being pleafed with his oym execu- 
tion, and finding his incapacity iiicreaie upon 
him> and. after making repeated but mcfFedtual 
efl^s to dvercome At ftupor, which cl^ude4 
his reaibn> he was* obliged to come forward^ 
and apologize for the interrupdon thatheh^l 
given the performance, and to requeft that Mt. 
Ryder might be permitted to fimfii his part. 

The cmnpany, wiA true BrMfli fympaithy, 
accepted the change without hefitatioo, and the 
father of the Britifh drama took his laft and 
very afiedbg farewel of the iiaigc, amidO: the 
tears and thundering plaudits of a mofl: crowded 
audience. 



Y4 



jaS THB LIFB Of 

' Cfjap. xili. 

THOUGH Mr. Macklin had taken his 
linal leave of the ftage, it became no 
fofy matter for him to lay afide all^thoughts of 
it. He Aill x>cGupied himfelf inreyifingand 
preparing his df^Hi^tic wo;:ks for reprefenta- 
tion> and wa^ a conftant frequenter of the the- 
atre. This^uadice he continued till within a 
very fhort time of his death. He made a point 
of .fitting in a confpicuous part of the pit, every 
night that his Majelty appeared at the play- 
hpufc, and was highly delighted whenever he 
was obfcrved by'the gracious Sovereign of 
Great Britain. On the 4th of April, 1790, 
Mr. Macklin fuftained a fevere lofs, by the 
death of his only fon, Mr. John Macklin. 
This gendeman died at Jiis father's houfe> in 
Covcnt-Gardcn,' after he had undergone a va- 
riety of viciffitudes in life. Mr. Macklin 
Ipared no expcnce in the education of his®fon, 
who certainly poiTefled great natural parts. 



CHARLES MAORLIN. ^2^ 

and was unlvcrfally allowed to be, at an early 
age, an excellent fcholar, and an accompliihed 
gentleman. That his fon might have an op- 
portunity of making a figure in life, was Mr. 
Macklin's darling objedt. Through his intereft, 
he accordingly procured him the fituation of 
writer, an the Eaft India Company's fervic*, 
at Fort St. George. The entrance of Mr. 
Johii Macklin into public life was attended 
with very aufpicious circumftances : he fet fail 
for Fort St. George, under the warm patronage 
of Mr. Haftings -, but it was his misfortune 
to hegleft the opportunity that prefented itfelfi 
of becoming a fhining ornament to fociety, and 
of realizing an handfome fortune. 

We ftiall prefent the reader, m the following 
pages, with the copies of feveral letters, which 
were written by Mr. Macklin to his fon, at 
Fort St. George, and which contain a great 
dealof good fenfe, and breath much parental 
afFcftion. 



JJO THE LirU Of 

** London, December 6th, 17^9. 
" My Dear Child, 
•* As I wrote to you, at large, by the Aurora 
<* frigate, a king's (hip, that carried over 
f* Meffrs. Vanfittart, Scrafton, and Colonel 
♦* Ford, I have now but little new matter to 
<• fend you, cither of news or advict. My 
^* firft and conllant advice is, to have an in- 
♦* ceflant attention to your charafter, and the 
•^ ftudy of your bufinefs, and never to lofe 
** fight of Mr. Haftings in both. Copy him — 
♦* reputation will follow — which is the bcft, 
^* and moft permanent fortune that* you can 
** acquire. Since my laft letter to you, Co- 
•* lonel Coote has been appointed Commander 
•* in Chief, by the company, of their forces in 
*• the Eafl Indies ; and Sir Robert Fletcher 
^* goes out fccond in Command. They arc to 
*• fail very fliortly, and Madras is the place 
••that they arc to land at^ Enclofed, you 
•* have a copy of a letter to Colonel Coote, in 
•• your favour, written by my friend Colonel Bla- 
" quire, an intimate of Colonel Coote 's. You 
•* will, in this letter of recommendation, fee 
•• how you mull rank in Colonel Coote's opi- 



CHARLEt MACKLIN. 33I 

'^ nion^ as a fcholar, as a youth of expeftation, 
^^ and of gradtudc. From this you will 
*^ judge how neceflary it is for you to be nice 
*^ in your conduit, and conftant in your appli- 
^^ cation to the Perfian and Indian language* I 
*^ am told, that a knowledge of the different 
*^ kind of coins, m the nature and value of 
** their metal, is very- ufefiil in the courfe of 
** trade. But as you are upon the fpot, no 
*' doubt you will find out the valuable know- 
** ledge that relates to cdmmcrce, and will in- 
^\ defatigablr purfue the ftudy of it, and dif- 
*^ tinguifh it from the light and trifling know- • 
•' ledge of curiofity or of pleafurc. Seek out 
*' whatever is valuable, and lay down a daily 
*' tafk for ftudy. I know you are apt to lay 
*' down a plan of ftudy, but you are apt too 
•* to grow weary of it, and to fly to a new 
** purfuit — that will never be profitable. A 
" courtier, wondering how the great Sully 
" could difpatch fuch a variety of bufinels, 
'* relative to the army, finances, politics, both 
" foreign and domcftic. Sully anfwered, that 
*' he difpatched them only by doing one thing 
at a time. Imitate Sully j fet your time 



€i 



33* THE LIFE or 

*' apart each day for different purfuits, and 
'* for plcafufc : you will then be able to dif- 
" patch — but remember to do that firft, that 
" may be firft wanted. Make yourfelf matter 
*^ of the Oriental languages immediately 5 for 
** fuch soi afcquirement is the key to promotion, 
*' to the knowledge of all you want to know, 
*' and, as I faid before, to the underftandings 
" and hearts of the natives* 

" I am informed that you have a theatre 
" at Madras -, pray fend me a minute account 
" of it, and let me have anfwers to the fol- 
*' lowing queftions; How wide and how deep 
" is the theatre f What plays have been played 
" in it ? Who a6tcd the parts ? And with 
*' what reputation ? Where does the Nabob 
" of the Carnatic refide ? Does he ever vifit 
*' Fort St. George, or go fee your plays ? 
'^ Have the natives any drama of any kind ? 
** Give me a journal of one/of your days — let 
" me know how you fpend it generally ; for, 
" by that one journal, I fhall judge of the 
" whole — how have you difpofcd of your 
^* books ? Where do you lodge*? Defcribe 



CHARLES MACKLIN. ^33 

** the eftablifhment of your houfliold minutc- 
'^ ly. Have you got fervants that (peak the 
** Pcrfian language, and a matter to inftruft 
'^ you ? Can you read the different hands in 
" the Pcrfic ? 

" You have made a peace with Hyder Ally^ 
^' and, we are told here at home, that it is not 
*' a good peace for the company. There is a 
" ftron'g report here, that fome of the direc- 
" tors are about to introduce fuch a number 
" of the friends of the miniftry, as to give Go- 
" vernment an entire dominion, by a majority 
*' among the dire6lors, over the company. 
" But do not you enter into any party or cabal 
*' whatever. Be of no party, but that of 
" gaining knowledge^ and making yourfelf 
" ufeful to your employers : th^t is a party 
"that can offend none, and a party that can 
^' ntyttforjake or betray you. 

*' Depend upon it, that every other party 
" will do one or other, or both: I have 
" lived long in the world ; have had much cx- 
'' perience^ in parties, in my own fphere i have 



JJ4 THE LiF£ or 

" obfervcd upon thofc in the ftatt, and 
" other focietics j and^ I declare, that I never 
" yet met with a man, or woman, in theatric 
^^ cal parties, that was not perfidious 3 nor 
" have I feen a party, in the great ^orld, that 
"has not made a facrifice of them, who ought 
*^ to have been liioft fupported : fo that I beg 
" that you never will let any man know what 
" your judgment is of the parties of die com- 
" pany. Enter into none — purfue your ftudy 
" of making yourfelf ufefiil — you will then de- 
*' pend upon what cannot defert you. 

" I repeat it, let Mr. Haftings be your ex- 
" ample and your guide— for his charaftcr is 
" immaculate*«*his heart is good, and his un- 
" derftanding folid :—- a compofition feldpm to 
" be met with, in one man, in thefe times/' — 
[Mr. Macklin having here enumerated feveral 
articles of wearing apparel^ which he was fend- 
ing out to his fon, proceeds thus {] " I ftiall 
" fend you feveral other things, by Mr. Dot- 
*' ton, a young Gentleman, who is nominated 
" by Mr. Sayer. He is a pretty Latm Icholar, 
" was educated at St. Paul's fchool, and fccms 



CHA^LSS M ACKI.IK. ^ JJJ 

' a wcU-difpofed youth. I defire that you 
** will (hew him every kind of civility in your 
^ power, particularly on Mr.Saycr's account. 
*^ Befides, you arc called upon to do fo, by 
*' the tic of common benevolence, which is 
^* due to a fellow writer, with eyery one of 
'* whom, I hope, you will take eipecial care to 
^^ live on the moft friendly and noble terms.—- 
*' Be always ready- to fervc ; never be fordid 
*' in dealings with them ; never be fmart or 
*' witty on their foibles s but be indeed afrUud^ 
" and always hofpitable and liberal in the full 
** fpirit of the terms. You have a goodnefs 
*' from nature ; make it your care daily to hu- 
*^ mwize and improve it. -If you do not, ha- 
^^ bit, which arifes from paffions, will taint it 
^* at firft, and, in a great degree, corrupt it 
«* a^ laft. Therefore, my dear, watch your 
" nature daily, nay hourly. I muli teUyoii 
5* what I myfelf apply as a remedy to my idle- 
" nefs, impatience, and other irreguiaricies.— 
**^I fpeak foliloquies to myfelf, very often, by 
^' way of examinarion : viz. * Pray, Mr. Mack- 
*' lin, were not you too impatient, in that pcrint, 
*^ with your wife, your friend, your child?-- *^ 



33^ THE LIFE OF 

** Docs not impatience in convcrfation make 
*'jrou very difagrceable ? Docs not impa- 
** ticncc lead you into many difficulties and dif- 
*^ agreeable circumftances ?' Try this cxpe- 
" riment, my dear John. I took the hint 
•' from Lord Shaftfbury, in his advice to an 
*^ author. You cannot praftifc it too often. 
*^ I am, my dear child, , 

" With the warmeft afFeftion; 
" To " Your anxious father, 

« John Charles Macklin. « Charles Macklin/' 

" London, March 2> 1770. 
« My dear Child, 
'^ You know that my convcrfation and let- 
** ters to you always have but one end, which 
** is, to pay a conftant attention to prudence, 
*^ who is the cardinal governefs of all bad, as 
" well as good and ordinary fortune. It is a 
*^ conftant attention to her advice and condud> 
" only, that can put you in poiTcflion of know^ 
" ledge, fame, fortune, charafter, and of a 
" rule how to ufe them, when you have ac- 
" quired them— in which confifts human hap- 
" pineis. 



CHARLES AiACKLlI*. Jj^ 

^^ Having difcharged my duty fo far, t pray 
'^^ you to accept of your amiable mother's fmcerc 
^' wiflics and mine for your health and pfof- 
*' pcrity :-— fhe is in good health ; but a fevere 
" cold has vexed' me forely, and pulled me 
' *^ downj within thefc two months : but I am re- 
^^ covering apace. At my time of life, I muft 
*^ expeft that every trifling cold^ or any other 
"^contingency refpefting hcalthj muft, every 
" day, be more and more felt. From our birth, 
" we are but on our way to the grave. There 
" is no remedy againft death— it is as natural as 
" life or flcep : but there is a confolation for the 
" event, which is a fair and upright Gourfc ; 
" and that will give us a courage^ nay a kind of 
*^ pkafure, in the vital refignatioh. For my 
" part, I am, and hope I always Ihall be, 
'^ ready to pay that debt, whenever the great 
" Being, that gave me life, (hall pleafe to de- 
" mand it back. You muft now, John, look 
" upon yourfelf as alone in this greatpcean of 
" Life; you muft depend upon your own talents 
" and integrity, to make friends and fortune; 
*' for I think that I have not a long time to 

Vol. IL Z 



33* THE LIFI OP 

'' buftle in this world » and, if I hadj it is 
" but very little in my power to aflift you-— 
^ but what I can do, to the lafl: of my abilities, 
" be aflured I Ihall cxertmyfelf in your favour. 
'' I have noc adted this winter. It is not in 
" my power to fend you any money, or any 
'^ thing clfe, over u prefent ; when I can, I 
^^ fay agi^n, rely upon it that it ihall be fent. 
^' But, my d^ar John, be as good a manager, 
'' a9 prudence and a coniiftency without be* 
" ing mean (if you will allow me the exprcf- 
" fion) will admit. I hope you think that I 
" have as much pride in fupporting you pro- 
" perly, as you poffibly can have yourfelf : 
^^ nay, I have fo good an opinion of your un- 
^^ derftanding, that I am fure you think fo. 
^' God knows whether I fhall fee you ^gain or 
^' no; intbt cour& of nature, the better judg- 
*^ m^nt is that I ihall not — but, however 
^* ppor I Qidjl die, poverty can be no reproach 
^* to any man, provided he leaves a fiur cha- 
** rafter behind him — one free from fpots and 
*^ infamy — and that ^legacy, I hope, I (haU 
" leave you i for that is in every mian's power. 



CHARLES MACKLIK. 229 

* It is a treafure £ving, and will be fb to thofe 
" wc leave behind. 

<' But, though it i^ not probable that I 
" fhali fee you again> I am in hopes, that 
" youf dear mother will have that comfort. 
^' I cannot exprefs how much I am beholden 
'^ to her, for her afFefkion and attention tx) me. 
" She is, indeed, an help-mate, friend, and 
^^ comforter j and I hope^ among other tefti- 
*^ momes of her goodnefs to you and me, that 
«< you will treafure up this of her in your 
*^ heart, and dutifully feel it, when I fhall be 
^* no more. 

" Do not think this a gloomy letter, John ; 
'' I hope you know better. Philofophy Mali 
" tell you, that we are not the poorer for 
** guarding againft poverty, nor the nearer death 
^ for talking of it familiarly to our children, or 
" to thofe whom we love, 

^* This letter con«s by the ikfo^<?, Captaan 
^^ Hom> who is a very good-natured man, is 
Za 



3^0 /THE LIFE Of 

" univcrfally liked, and will, 1 believe, do you 
" any fervice in his power, or will let you hav€ 
" any 'thing in his Ship, I mean any of the 
*/ goods that he has fpr fale, upon your giving 
" him a draft: upon me for the price- In this 
" matter yoii may aft as your prudence direfts. 
" I do not forefee that you will have any occa- 
" fion for any part of his cargo — I hope you will 
" not i and my advice is, that, unlefs you have 
*' a very particular occafion indeed, not to 
" run in debt for any thing. I expeft, my dear 
*^ J6hn> to hear a moft pleafing account from 
*^ you, of your progrefs in the Perfian and In- 
^^ dian language. You are to remember, that 
*' language is the key of commerce, and of hu- 
^^ man underftandingi and your only method of 
*^ rendering yourfelf of confcquence to fociety, 
" is to make yourfelf u/eful to it i and the chief 
^^ ingredients, after integrity and prudence y arc 
" languages, figures, and a knowledge of 
^' commodities -, and all thefe can be ac- 
*' quired only by attention. The art of mak- 
" ing friends in the community that we belong 
" to, is one of the great arts of life* No man 
"ever loves a liar, or a pcrfon who is feverc 



V CHARLES MACKLIN. 341 

" and farcaftic, or who wants integrity. Thcfe 
^* arc the ingredients that always create enemies, 
'^ both fecret and open. Have you ever met 
*^ with the obfervation upon the inclinations of 
^^ Socrates ? If you have not, the ftory is 
'^ worth your attention. There was a phyfiog- 
*^ nomift at Athens^ who pretended, by the fea- 
*' tures of men, to divine the inc;Jinations of 
'^ their ruling paflions. The pupils of So-^ 
" crates y in order to try the power of the phy- 
" fiognomift, made him examine the features 
^^ of their mafter, and defired him to divine his 
^' ruling paffion. He examined them, and de- 
" clarcd, ' that the ruling paffion of Socrates 
" was to Ileal and filch :' the pupils burft out 
^' into a laugh of contempt, and were for treat- 
" ing the phyfiognomift^ who had flandered the 
<* honefteft man in Athens, as an impudent, ig- 
" norant, bafe impofter 3 on which Socrates in- 
^' terpofed, faying ^ that the pupils were all mif- 
^' taken, and wrong in their r^fentment^ and 
*^ affirmed that the man fpoke what was ftriftly 
<^ true— /cr tbaty from a childy be had found a 
<* violent inclination in birnfelf to Jieal and filch i^ 
^^ iut that be bad the refolution tofupfrefs it.' ' 
Z 3 



34^ THE^LIFE or 

*' The fame applicatioa may be made to 
*^ every weak or vicious bent of the htiman 
^' mind. Refoluiion is the phyfician that muft 
^ cure it i attentiony the friend, or phyfiogno* 
" mift, that mufl: difcover the defire. Men 
'^ always Hve in &ar of the man, who has the 
*^ habit of being feverc upon xht follies of 
'^ others, a^d never forgive the exertion of diat 
*' habit —nor is die vanity of Ihc wing our parts, 
'' or iuperior knowledge in converfation, lefs 
" ofFenfivc to' men. No man ever forgives an- 
" other, that gets the better of him in argu- 
*' ment in company, or even alone :«^it is, in 
." a degree, like being conquered by a pcrfon 
" in a duel. The vanquifhed party may be 
" fmooth, and fuperficiaUy civil, but he will 
'^ ever hate the man, who has proved his 
^ weaknefs to the world. 

" I had myfclf this difpuratious defire to an 
^^ ofFenfive degree j and, I believe, that it has 
•^ made me more enemies than all my follies or 
** vices befides) I have at laft fecn my error i 
** and I can now fit in company for hours, 
" hear men of letters and high charaft^i in the 



CHARLES MACRLIN. J4J 

*' world, contend for the moft filfe judgments, 
** and which they believe in too— I fay, I can 
*' now hear fuch ccmverfations with great tran- 
" quillity, and never contradift or fide with 
^* cither party : nay, I find a fecret plcafure in 
*^ my neutrality y that gratifies even the vanity of 
*^ men in public converfation, becaufe every 
" body is fond of excelling in knowledge and 
** cloqnence. It is a long time before men 
" learn the wijdom of neutrality in converfation, 
" efpecially men of parts or information ; but 
" it is wonderful how foon dull men and cun- 
" ning men fee the policy of it. 

'^ As to Indian politics, in Leadenhall-ftreet, 
** I know nothing of them. The Direftorsand 
" fervants are too wife even to open their lips 
" about them, but to their own particular 
*^ friends. Never trouble your head about the 
" politics of your Matters, but their bujinefs 5 
" and, even in the bufinefs, keep your mind 
^* to yourfelf, till your duty obliges^ you to 
" fpeak« To make every man your friend is 
" your policy i but remember that the friend- 
Z4 



344 THE LIFI OF 

'*' fliip of a man of honor, a Hastings, or ^ 

'^ Vansittart, is of ineftimablc value. — . 
^' Make my fincere compliments to Mr, 
*^. Hijftings. . Adieu. May God blefs and pre^ 
^^ ferye you is the wifh of your father, 

'^ Charles Macklinr 

The following was written by Mr. Macklin, 
by way of a political fupplemcnt to the fore-, 
going Letter, 

^^ As our politics in England have lately 
^' been carried, by both parties, to great cx^ 
^' tremities, I think a flight fketch of them 
*^ will afford you feme amufement. The 
'^ Parliament met on the 9th of January — 
'^ Petitions, complaining of a violation of the 
*f right of eledtion, in the cafe of Mr. ff^ilkesy 
"who was returned, but not determined to be 
" tfce Reprefentative,. for the County of Middle- 
" fex, were prefented to his Majefty from many 
*^ Counties and Boroughs, to which no anfwer 
^^ had been given. That corviudt in govern- 
'^ ment • excited great murmuring, and, at the 
^^ fame time, created much expeftation that 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 345 

** his Majcfty's fpccch to the Lords and Com- 
*^ mons, would contain fome mention or ac- 
*^ count of thefe Petitions; and that an imme- 
^^ diate rcdrefs of the Middlefex eleftion wotfld 
^' be the firft aft of the Legiflature. But never 
^^ were a people fo difappointed as the citizens 
*^ of London were, when they read a fpecch, 
^^ which fet forth an extreme concern for the 
^^ diftreffes and difeafes of horned cattle^ but did 
*^ not contain a word about thediftreflfesor com^ 
^^ plaints of the people. You muft read the. 
" fpeech, which accompanies this letter.- After 
^^ the furprife of the people concerning their dif- 
^* appointment from the contents of the Ipeech, 
^^ w^s oyer, the whole force of their wit and fa- 
" culties was exerted in ridicule and farcafms by 
*^ one fide, and in encomiums and juflification 
" by the other— the natural confequences of 
^' a free people, and of the violence of par- 
" tie's. After the fpeech had been read in the 
" Houfe of Peers, one of the Miniftry moved 
^^ for an addrefs of thanks to the Throne; upon 
'^ which Lord Chatham got up, and, with un- 
*' common powers of mind and elocution, 
^^ painted the general difcoqtent and complaipts 



346 THE LIFE OP^ 

^' of the people of England ; afierted the juftice 
" ofthcircAufe of complaint J highly commend- 
" ed the freedom and fpif k^ that had been mani- 
" f^fted in thofe complaints; and wa$ happy to 
" find, that neither the mcnaccsofmiBcarycxccu- 
" tion, of difmiffionfrom oiRcc, of the rigour of 
"thelawagainftpcrfonsfordaringtopetition,nor 
'* the venality of the times, were able to check 
** or abate that free fpirit, which the conftitution 
'* allowed to Engliftimen. His Lordfhip con- 
^* tended, that the Houfe of Commons had, in 
" their refolutions with regard to Mr. fFilkes 
•* and Colonel Luttrely exerted a power of no 
« lefs force than that of the whole Legiflation 
«* of the land, which was a breach of a mortal 
** nature in the Conftitution. He obferved, 
*' that it was an aft of fuprcmacy and of tyranny 
<' in a third part of the ftatc, and that it dif- 
'* franchized every freeholder in the realm, and 
" was alfo an aft, that the three cftates united, 
" could not, in juftice, do, being in its nature, 
" an entire diflblution of the Conftitution ; and 
'* he called upon any Law Lx)rd prefent to deny 
" that this his opinion of the Britilh Conftitu- 
** tion was erroneous 5 for thcfe reafons, there- 



CHAKLBS MACK£>IN. J47 

** fore, he moved, before that Houfe addrefled 
** the Throne for a fpecch that had neglefted 
*' the general grievances of the people, parti- 
'^ cularly a violation of their fundamental con* 
" ftitutional birth-right, oft which their lives, 
" liberty, and property depended, and the Per 
" titions laid before the Throne from the right 
'^ of immemorial ufage, and the facrcd aft, 
" called the Bill of Rights, that they would 
" firft take into confidcration, ' the fiate of 
'* the Nation^ and the cmduSt of the Houfe of 
" Commons reJfeSting their late Refolutions.* 
** This was oppofed by many Lords i but the 
" principal arguments againft it were adduced 
*^ by Lord Mtmsfield, who contended, that the 
** motion was unconftitutional, inafmuch as 
" the Lords had no right to queftion the con- 
'^ duft of the Commons, upon any point rela- 
** tive to eleftions, or their power over their 
** own Members j that, as to the point of 
** law, concerning the incapacity of the fame 
** man to be elcfted again in the fame Parlia- 
** ment, after cxpulfion, he never had given 
'* an opinion upon it — he never would— his 
'^ opinion Ihould go with him to his grave ; — 



34* ^H2 LIFS OF 

" that an inquiry into the conduftof the Com- 
" mons on that fubjcd:, would neceflarily be 
*' refented by them, and would produce a 
".quarrel between the twoHoufes,, which would 
" bring them both into contempt, and would 
*' tend to raife the feditious difturbances of the 
*^ nation higher, which were but too high al- 
** rcady^ for a mild governnient to endure $ 
^* that the Houfe of Commons, concerning, elec- 
**tions, was a Court of Judicature; that their 
** determination was final — ' there being na. 
'^ appeal from their ReJolutionSi but to God 
" and their own conjciences.' The Duke of 
^' Grafton, fupported this doftrine by a long 
" Ipcech, and contended, that Lx^rd Chatham's. 
" amotion had no foundation, for th^t there was. 
** not a fmgle grievance, that could, in juftice„ 
*^ or common fenfe, excite or warrant Petiti- 
" ons from the people ; that they were imr 
" pofed upon by falfe ftories, notions, and doc-. 
" trines, raifed apd difFufed by difappointed> 
" ambitious, and feditious men, and that he 
" was, and ever lliould be, of opinion, that the 
^' determination of the Houfe of Commons,^ 
* ' in expelling and incapacitating Mr. fFilkfs^ 



CHAkLES MACKLrN, ^45^ 

^ and in fearing Colonel Luttrel, was con-^ 
** fiftent with, and conformable to, the law of 
^ Parliaments and the Conftitution of the land. 
^^ Lord Camden (the Lord Chancellor) an- 
^^ fwcred the Duke of Grafton. He began by 
** obferving, that as he had the honotit of hold- 
** ing an high fituation, that neceflarily cdled 
** him to the councils and co-operations of Ad- 
'^ miniftration, he found himfelf at that junc- 
" ture, in a. fituation that gave him the dcepeft 
" concern ; that, by virtue of his office, he 
*^ muft either fupport the doftrincs and mca* 
" fures of the Miniftry> or, in obedience to the 
*^ didlates of his confcience* and his ideas of the 
*' Conftitution, oppofe the meafures of Admi- 
^^ niftration. But fince he judged that no, man 
^' could be worthy of a feat in that Houfe, or of 
^' the high office that he held, who fhould he- 
" fitate a moment between the frowns of a Mi- 
" nifter, and the duty of his truft, he fhould 
" obey the diftates of his confciencc, by de- 
'^ daring his opinion that the refolution of the 
" Hqufe of Commons, on the Middlefex elec- 
" tion, was, by the ftatute and common law 
" of the land, a flagrant violation of the Con- 



J5t> THI LIFI OF 

^' ftkution ; and he cftUcd upon any Learned 
" Lord of the Long Robe (looking faii in Lord 
'' Mansfield's face) to produce, if he could, a 
" Angle reaibn to the contrary — adding, that if 
" any Learned Lord had reafons that could f^- 
" port the refolution of the Houfe of Commons, 
*' he hoped, that he would, for the information 
*'and fatisfaftion of that Houfe, and the 
*^ quieting the minds of the people, make a 
*• motion to appoint a day when they might be 
" heard, and the pobt be fully difciiffed, as it 
^ was the greateft conftitutional point that had 
"occurred fincc the Revolution. This was 
" thought a bold and a fair challenge by the 
'^ Oppofition, and aB indifferent men ; twit was 
" deemed perfidious ^d treachercwis by aS 
«* the friends of Gdvernmenfc The morion was 
'^put for the addrefs, as moved for by the Mi- 
**niftry, and carried by a great majority^ 

" This, my dear, is a rude fketch of what 
^ pafled among the Lards the firft day; the mo- 
" tion and debate in thit Commons were to the 
** fame effect, but carried cm with much greater 
"violence, and boldnef a, rcfpeftbg Govern- 



CHARtlS MACKLIN. 35I 

^\m^nti w4 in the opimon ofibme^ and jvftly 
'* I think, to an unwarrgntabk excefs. 

" The next great day was in confcquencc of 
*^ ^ motion in the Houfe of Lords to take the 
*^ jQtatc of the Nation into confideration. This 
•* debate w%s opened by Lord Chatham^ who 
'^ took notice of the following pofioons^ laid 
'^ down» at different times, by L.ord Mansfield: ' 
*' viz. * that the Lords ought not tp interfere 
** with the Refolution of the Commons in mat- 
*' ters of Ele&ioni that it was unconftitutional ; 
*' that the Commons were a Court of Judicature, 
*' from whence there was no appeal, but to 
" God and their confciences j that they had 
" an abfplute power over their own Mem- 
*' bers and Officers, a power exercifcd even by 
" inferior Courts, without which juftice could 
" not be dilpenfed neither in forms nor cffence/ 
" Thefe were the texts of his fpcech, which 
'' was direded pointedly at Lord Mansfield. 
'' A ipeech more pregnant with general know-^ 
** ledge, argument, law, precedent, raillery, 
" invc6Hve, ' ftroJ^es of fublimity, and confti- 
•* tutional integrity, was, in the opinion of all 



5ji *f liE LIFE or 

*' who heard him, never before delivet'ed 
'« within the walls of that Houfe. He begari 
" with obferving upon the unparalleled auda- 
" cioufnefs of venality i its notorious influence 
*^ upon men's morals j its known and avowed 
" influence in Parliament, and every branch of 
^* Government; the manifeft danger with which 
^' it threatened the Conftitution, and the great 
*^ neceffity of putting an immediate ftop to its 
" progrcft* 

" He then fell upon the Mimfters, for daring 
*' to trifle with, and afiront one of the greateft 
" Nations on the globe, by compofing and ad- • i 

" vifing fuch a performance as the late fpeechi 
" as if it were meant as a parody of ridicule 
•* upon the diftreflfes of the people, inftead of 
*' a royal anfwer, or a paternal recommenda- 
" tion> for quieting or rcdrefllng their griev- 
*' anceSk After a great deal more of this ge- 
*^ neral matter, he proceeded next to a defini- 
" tion of the Conftitution, and laid it down as a 
" firft principle, that the fovereignty of the 
" land was in the King, and the two Houfes of 



*^ Parliament conjointly, and compofcd a truft, 
*' which was cifcumfcribed by the end for which 
" it was originally inftituted J namely, theprc- 
*' fcrvation of the lives, liberty and property 
** of the people, according to the known laws 
" of the land 5 that a violation of thofe laws 
** was a diflblution of the trdft — a treafon againft 
" the people i that he defied the moft crabbed, 
** duftile, quibbling lawyer to refute thefe fun- 
" damcntal truths; that they were co-eval 
** with the firft traces of law of order in this 
" land J that our anceftors had, in iron gar- 
" ments, met the betrayers of this truft feven 
*' and thirty times in the field, and obliged 
" thetn ISO acknowledge ^nd ratify thefe facred 
** truths; that the three eftates of fovcreignty 
^f were equal and co*-ordinatc in power 1 that 
*' when any one of them ufurped that co-ordi- 
^f natc power, it was the fpecial duty of each of 
" the others to ftep forth and control that^ 
^' ufurpationj that it was a duty 'of natural 
" juftice, immemorial ufage, and public fafety; 
'* that if any one of the eftates predominated, 
** our conftitucion and liberty were at an end ; 
Vol. II. Aa ' 



354 '^H'5 ^^^^ ^^ 

" that the Commons had ufurped the whole 
" Lcgiflativc power by their refolution rcf- 
^^ pcding the Middlefex eleftion ; that that 
'^ refolution operated as a defpotic law> and 
'^ fuperfeded both the ftatute and common law 
" of the land, refpcfting the rights of freehold 
" dcrsi that the learned Lord (looking ftcrnlf 
^^ at I/)rd Mansfield and fhaking his head) who 
'^ faid, that the Commons had no being to 
" appeal to, but God and their confciences, did 
" not know the tremendous import of thofe 
^^ ominous words when he uttered them- After 
*^ a great de^l of forcible reafoning on this 
'^ point, he proceeded ntxt to a review of the 
*Vcondu£t of Miniftry; who, he faid, for fome 
" years paft, had ftraiqed every nerve' of the 
** law, in the courts below, and, at laft, even 
*' of the cdnftitution itfelf, in order to opprefs, 
*' nay, to extinguifh one man — ^ man to whom 
*^ he had many exceptions, and for whom he 
" had no regard, but as a man whole ruin be 
*^ faw was to be completed^ even to the ruin of 
" the conftitutioni — that therefore he thought 
^* it mcumbent upon every man who valued the 
•^ liberty of an Englilhman and the bleflings of 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 355 

^^ thp Britifh conftitution, to ftand forward on 
''this important occafion in defence of both. 
'^ On thcfe principles^ and for thefc re^fons, he 
" movcd> ' that John Wilkes, Efti. had been 
'' perfecuted by minifters ; that he had been 
'' duly and legally elefted and returned to ferve 
'* in Parliament ; and that the vote of the 
" Houfe of Commons, that rejeded him, and 
'' feated Colonel Luttrel, was contrary to 
" the ftatute and common law of the land, and 
*' an ufurpation of the legiflative fovereignty 
" thereof.' 

''This inflamed Adminiftration to anex-^ 
" treme; but as candour muft allow that the 
" point was againft them, they could only ex- 
'S ert negatives, farcaftns, and raillery. Lord 
" Canjden was powerful in illuftrating Lord 
*' Chatham's principles of the conftitution, 
" and affertcd, that where law ends, dcfpotifm 
" begins. As foon a£ Lord Camden fat down, 
" Lord Weymouth got up, and charged Lord 
" Camden warmly with duplicity, while in of- 
'^ fice*— *Hc obferved, that he, as Chancellor^ 
A a 2 



356 THE LIFE OF 

" when the writ for the county of Middlefex came 
" to befigned by him, as all writs of that kind 
" do, ought to have flopped it, as he faw that it 
" contained a pofitive order, in the body of it, 
" which incapacitated the freeholders from eleft- 
" ing Mr. Wilkes^ but that, on the contrary, the 
" learned Lord had lent his countenance and ap- 
** probation to the whole of the meafure. This 
" charge, fo roundly afferted, excited a re- 
*^proachful aftonifliment in every counte- 
'* nance, and the inquiring eyes of every 
" member were inftantly direfted • towards the 
" filcnt Lord Camden. His Lordlhip's de- 
" portment, during this charge, and for fomc 
" feconds after Lord Weyhiouth had finifhed 
'^ his fpeech, I look upon to be one of the 
" fineft ftrokes of filent eloquence that I ever 
" heard of or obferved. His placid counte- 
'* nance, which marked nothing befides modeft 
" attention, was continued on his accufer. — 
'* The accufation being ended. Lord Camden 
" refted his chin upon his breaft for a mo- 
" ment, and his head reclined, as it were, in a 
" ftate of refleftion, which many interpreted 
'^into fpeechlefs guilt. Aftef a few moments 



\ 



I • ... 

i CHARLES MACKLIN. 357 

" paufc, in flow and folemn motion, he arofe, 
^' and, for a minute, flood ereft^ then, in grace- 
" ful civility, bowed to his noble accufcr, and 
'* thanked his benevolent nature fincerely for 
'^ the favourable oppo^unity that he had fo in- 
*' genuoufly afFqrded lum for his defence — a 
" circumftance that he had long wilhed for. 
*' He was fenfible, that what his noble and can- 
*' did accufer had laid before their Lordfhips 
" had long been whifpered by Minifters, 
*' avowed by their creatures, and publifhed in, 
" newfpapers by libellers i but that he had ne- 
'^ ver, in any mode whatever^ endeavoured to 
" exculpate bimfelf, or to ftop or fhun the im- 
" putations i and that, even then, he confef- 
" fed that he found himfelf in the greateft con- 
" fufion, and under the greateft difficulties, 
*' when he reflcfted, that the fource from 
" whence he muft derive his defence, was of 
" the moft fecret, as well as the moft facred 
*' nature, andevidence of the highcft and moft 
** refpcftable kind: — fo thathe was not fure that 
^^ exonerating himfelf from this flagrant charge 
" might not be a greater offence to Minifters, 
^^ i^nd a greater crime, than that with which, 
A a J 



35* THE LIFE or * 

" he flood accufcd ; * but whatever ^ offfence 
'^ truth may be to any pcrfon, or "pcrfons, I 
" muft, (fays he,) call her even from the very 
'^ Cabinet, where flie ought to lie concealed, to 
^^ my defence, as that flivine being, the do- 
'^ ings of the prefcnt Minifters, and the con- 
'^ ftitution of this country, are all involved in 
" my accufation.' — Here the long fufpenfc 
*' he molt pleaflnglykept his auditors in, at once 
*^ brightened up into an high impatient euriolity; 
*^ bur it was pleafing, to a Ipeculative mind, to 
^^ fee how very differently the fame curiofity 
'^ operated on the countenances of the different 
" parties : the countenances of oifc party were 
*^ impreffed and lighted up with a fmiling happy 
^' confidence, whilft the countenances of the 
♦* other were ftamped with a mixture, or fuc- 
^^ ceflion of frowns, fiieersi contempt, and in- 
*' dignation : — but now to Lord Camden. 
" While the buz of expeftation ran through 
" the alTembly, and the different parties were 
*^ exerting and compofing their paffions and 
"v features into attention, his Lordfhip fell into 
*^ a modeft and a graceful paufe, at the very 
^* point of time where truth, directed by innQ-s 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 559 

^ ccncc and perfuafion, fhould begin, he 

*' opened his defence. His matter was a moft 

** judicious apology for bringing what pafled in 

" the Cabinet to the ears that were prefent 5 but 

*' there is a neceffity in fclf-defence, that fome- 

'^. times muft break through forms, and even 

'^ laws of States ; yet fuch breaches, where the 

^^ laws were above all, he allowed, ought to 

" be accounted for j and for which he was 

" always ready to anfwer, whenever he was 

" called upon. He then declared, that fo far 

^ from lending his countenance, or to borrow 

" the noble Lord's (Weymouth) phrafe, his 

" innuendos or afprobaUonary ftgnsy refpefting 

" Mr. Wilkes, or the Middlefex elcdion, 

" that the very firft time the meafure was agi- 

*^ tated in the Cabinet, in his prefence, he 

" warmly declared againft it as inexpedient 9 

" and that as often as that bufinefs was moved 

" in the Cabinet, he declared that he would 

^^ have no hand in it, and accordingly quitted the 

*^ Council. — For which reafon, fome time after 

" thefc declarations, he was not fummoned to 

^^ the Cabinet whenever the meafure was to be 

Aa4 



360 THB LIFE OF 

*' difcuffed J and, for the fame reafon, he never 

" obtruded himfelf into the Council at fuch 

" times as he knew that his prefence would 

" not be agreecble, as his voice would be 

^' always s^ainft the proceeding. And as to 

" the noble Lord's obferving, that a Chancellor 

*' ought to ftop an unconftitutional writ, iflbed 

*^ by the Houfe of Commons, his Lordfhip 

^' ought to know, that a Lord Chancellor does 

" not read one writ in a million that he figns — 

^' that ceremony being mer/^ly an official cere- 

" mony, and that the time of figning a writ 

" was neidier the time nor the place to obferve 

** upon it, but when it came judicially or in a 

" legiflative review before him. For thefe 

" truths, refpefting his declarations in the 

^' Cabinet, and his not (topping the writ, he 

'^ firft appealed to all the Miniftcrs to refute 

^^ him if they could-*-and to the learned law 

"Lord, whom he then had in his eye (bowing 

" to Lord Mansfield), Some trifling anfwer^ 

" were made to him, but none that impeach- 

** ed the truth of his aflfertions. This accu^ 

" fation of Lord Camden, as it -could not 

^^ be fupported, brought great difgrace upon 



CHARLES MACRLIN, 36 1 

" the Miniftry, and threw great luftre upon my 
" Lord Camden and the Oppofition. How- 
*^ ever, the queftion was put and carried 
'^ againft the Oppofition, by a great majority, 
" The fame fort of motions were made in the 
" Houfe of Commons, and the fame kind of 
" arguments ufed, with a majority for the 

/' Court of nearly an hundred, 

* 

" Two nights j^o, Mr, Kelly, the author of 
*^ Fal/e Delicacyy brought out a Comedy at 
^^ Drury-Lane, entitled ^ A Word to the Wife: 
" This man having, as the condudor of a daily 
*' paper, called the Ledger, abufed Wilkes and 
" his party, and written profeffedly on the 
' * Court fide, when the curtain drew up, and 
" the aftors appeared, the audience began, in 
" a moft violent outrage of hifling, cat-cal- 
'' ling, and every kind of noife, to obftrudt 
^' the performance. There was a ftrong par- 
" ty on both fides, but the noes carried it. 
"However, the play was given out again for 
*' the next night j and, till ten o'clock at 
^^ night, there was the moft violent ftruggle 
^' rf^at ev^r my experience met with in a thca- 



36i THE LIFE OF . 

" trc-: butfo refolutc and ftrong were the oppo- 
'' fition, that they would not fuffer a word of 
*' the play to be heard. 

'^ Mr. Garrick went on in order to appeafe, 
" but he was pelted off, and treated with vio- 
" lence and contempt. The party would hear 
*' of no terms, but a declaration from the, 
" llage, that the play never Ihould be given 
'^ out to be aftcd again, and the money that 
" was received laft night, to be returned im- 
" mediately to the audience : both which 
" points Garrick was obliged to comply 
^' with — an inftancc of the kinci never hap- 
*' pened but once before, and that too was 
*' in oppofition to a court author, fat Captain 
" Boarding, who lived near Mr. Chetwynd : 
** his play was called The Modijh Couple, You 
*' fee, my dear child, that I have been very 
" copious in my detail of politics j the defign 
"ofwhlch is to amufe, and to give you an 
*^ idea, though a faint one, of what the great 
" arc doing in this part of the world, 



CHARLES MACKLINT. ^63 

^* It is by piftures of the great and good^ 
** that ingenious and virtuous minds are to be 
** excited to emulation ; habitual attention will 
^^ follow, , You have talents ^ you have edu- 
^^ cation; you have an inviting field to improve 
^* in, and to exert both; and a more eligible 
^^ example you cannot have, than the perfon 
*' (Mr. Haftings) with whom you had the ho- 
*^ nor and happincf^ to fail. If yoi? have 
" merit and virtue enough to deferve his pa- 
^f tronage, I amfurc that you will have it; a 
?^ circumftance which I fhall deem the happieft 
f' incident of my life, as I am fure it will be 
** fufEcient to make yours honorable ^nd for- 
f' tunate. Again niake my finccre refpeds to 
*' him, and could yqu procure a line from him, 
^' in your letter to me, importing ^that you 
** are not unworthy of his countenance, it will 
^' givp me a joy that is not cafily exprefled. 
f^ Lady Mexboroijgh has had both her fons 
^f innoculatcd, and happily. Her Ladyfliip, 
" my Lord, Sir Francis, and the whole family 
ff are well, and ^nd many wiihes for your 
^ profperity. Enclofed you will find a letter 
ff for Mr. Button, who failed in the Haw,h^ 



364 THE LIFE OF 

" Captain Cotton ; pray deliver it to him. I 
" wrote to you before concerning him. Adieu, 
*' God blefs you/' 



Cfiap^ XIV. 

" Dear John, London, June 23d, i >^70, 

"ILT'OUR letter, dated i6th of September, 
X " 1769, from Fort St. George, came 
" to my hands on the i8th of April 1770, and 
*' this will be conveyed to the Eaft Indies by 
** the Dolphin man of war, the bufinefs or 
" purport of whofe voyage, at prefent, I am a 
" ftranger to j but, before I feal this letter, I 
" fhall inquire about it, and Ihall infert my in- 
*-' teUigence. You mull imagine that the re- 
*' ceipt of a letter from you, that< gave an 
'* account of your fafe arrival at Fort St, 
*' George, and of your health and good fpirits, 
** afforded your mother and me great joy ; for 
" while you have health, fpirits^, and a feir 
♦* charafter, which is better than both, wc 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 365 

*^ ihall think you and ourfelves happy, let other 
** circumftances of liife be as they may; butbe- 
". fides health, fpirits, and a fair charafter, I 
*' fhould alfo wifli you to have a meritorious 
** charafter, that is, a character as a man who 
*' knows his bufinefs. To be a good fervant 
*^ to the Company Ihould be your conftant en- 
" dcavoun My reafon for being fo particular 
" on this fubjeft, at prefent, arifes from your 
" unfatisfaftory, imperfect letter, from Fort 
**^ St. George, which is written fo unlike 
" that of a gentleman, a fcholar, or a man 
" of bufinefs. Pray attend to the following 
** inftance of your want of precifion : — you 
*' tell me, * that you are at length arrived, after 
** a very tedious paflage, and in every fliape a 
" difagreeable voyage.' 

*^ I begged it, as a favor, that you would 
** keep a journal of your voyage : — I made you 
*^ a book for that purpofe ; but you did not 
" think it worth your while to ol^lige me in 
" that point, or you have not thought proper 
" to convey me a fingle paflage of it. By your 
'^ not riicntioning Mr. Haftings's name in your 



^66 THE LlfE of 

^^ letter, I mull: conclude that you had fomC 
*^ very cogent reafon for it. I muft fuppofe 
*' that you had offended or difguftcd him, and 
** fo were afliamcd to mention him, as you 
** could not do it with any honor or grace to 
*' youffelf* Some fuch circumftancc I muft 
'* imagine, in confcqucnce of your filence, on 
'' fo refpeftable a part of your company, fo 
*' amiable a charadtcr, and one on whom you 
" had fome dependancc. Do you not think, 
" that it would have been fome fatisfadion to 
" me, if you had pointed out how, or from 
<* what your difappointments arofc* You fay, 
" that your living is expenfive, and without a 
" profpeft of getting any money. What ! did 
" you expeft to find money in the ftreets ? or 
*' to be put into a poft or ofEce of getting 
** money immediately on your arrival ? Before 
^* you know your bufinefs, before you can 
*' even write a letter to your parents, without 
" being blotted and fcratched, with words 
^^ omitted, fenfe imperfeft, and fo deficient in 
" matter, and incorreft in every refpeft,. that they 
" are afhamed to fliew it to any of your friends. 
^^ Before you expedl to get money in your era- 



CHARLSS MACKLIN. 2^J 

*• ployer*s fcrvice, you muft firft qualify your- 
*^ felf to dcferve itj by learning to write a 
*' letter like a man of bufinefs, and to know 
" your bufincfs in your ftation. Study it — ap- 
*^ ply to nothing cife — do not fpend your time 
*^ in reading books for your amufemcht, but 
" in ftudying to qualify yourfelf for your fitua- 
'* tion. Do this> Sir, andprofpecks of getting 
^^ money will arife of courfe i without it they 
" never will arife* You write me a letter, and 
*^ never tell me by what fliip you fend it, what 
" the captain's name is, whence the Ihip failed, 
" when ftie was to fail from Fort St. George, 
'^ or when you expcfted that fhe would arrive 
«' in England. All thcfe points are neceffary, 
^' and fhew a man of bufinefs^— never omit 
*^ fuch circumftances again, and always take 
" notice to your correfpondent of the time, 
*' the Ihip, the captain, through whofe hands 
" you receive your correfpondent's letter* — 
** Have you no book of letters upon bufincfs 
**' that you can form yourfelf upon ? — Certainly 
" you have. You requeft me to fend you a 
" little money, to keep you from' borrowing. 
*^ Surdy you cannot want money more than Mr- 



' ^68 tHB LIFJ5 Ot 

" Corbet, or any other young man. Mn Cef- 
" bet tells his father, that the allowance from 
" the Company is but fmall j but that he will 
*' make it do* Cannot you do fo too ? Yoil 
" talk of buying a fhare in a country Ihip j 
" which i^ the only way of making money ia 
" your (ituation, you fay. Pray who is to 
" freight that fhip ? To lay out money, in the 
" purchafe of a fhip, is ealily faid ; but it 
" feems to me to be a very abfurd, or, at Icaft, 
" a very precarious fcheme for a young man 
" to engage in an undertaking of that nature, 
*^ before he has any knowledge of markets, 
" commodities, or of any of the conditions 
^' or circumftances of commerce, or the per- 
<' fons concerned in it , and it appears to 
" me, at this diftance, that this muft be your 
" cafe in every refpeft. Is Mr. Corbet's fon 
" engaged in/uch an adventure ? John, do not 
" be impatient ; be fure that you know^ always, 
" before you judge y /peaky or adventure% But 
** why did you not fend me an account of the 
*' nature of your country ftiip, its commerce, and 
" of all the circumftances of the undertaking ? 
'' as well as to fend to me for money for fuch 



f 



CHARLES MAdKLlN. 369 

^' a bufincfe. You had a letter from Lord 
*' Clive to the late. Governor, and one from 
" Mr. Nuthall td Mr. Chaneau. Pray do yo\t^ 
** not think that it would have been, in fomc 
*' degree, proper, that you Ihould have given 
*' me fome account of* the particuiars how yoii 
*^ were received in confcquence of thefc letters, 
*' that I might know how to addrefs, or to 
" thank Lord Clive, or Mr. Nuthall, on that 
*' bufiriefs; O fie ! fie ! never be guilty of 
* fuch Ihameful omiflions again ! If ou defire 
"me to procure you fome letters ofrecom- 
" mendation *---how can you expeft me to 
*' i(k for any lettei-s, Jifter fuch a Ihameful 
*^ riegleft in you ? I ' charged you td keep a 
''journal, or book of memorandums, ofordi- 
** nary as wejl as extraordinary occurrences, — ; 
•' Have you done fo ? I am fure youhav^e not. 
" From fuch a book, had you kept one, yoii 
" might j at any rime, when you were to writd 
/* to me, or to any perfon> take cxtrads, ot 
''heads of intelligence, and comnoiit them to 
" your letter, according to order. Remembeft 
" Sir, as an invariable rule, that ^ merchant^ Qt 
VoL.n. Bb 



yjO TMB LIFI OF 

'^ a iftan in any kihd of bufinefa, is to truft no* 
" thing to rticmory ; cvei*y thing is to be com- 
" mitted to paper. Again I charge you to 
«^ praftife it. I cart tell by your letter, at firft 
** fighti whether or no you do it : fo do not de* 
*^ cciVc yoyrfelf, by thinking that you can de* 
** ccive me, by tellii^ me that you do it* Re* 
^^ member that bufinefs has but one profitable 
" rule— -I mean a governing rule — ahd that is 
*• MEtHOD J without which, no man in bufintft 
" ciMi be fiire of eafe, pelct, chani&er, or pro^ 
** fit. Pray oblige me, and pradlife this jour- 
^^ 'nalizing i ten minutes a day will be fuificient 
'^ for that bufinefs ; and I requeft that you will 
'^ read Dr^ Louth's Grammar critically, and 
** commit his obfervations to your incmory. 
^^ Get the infbaces that he gives, of the mif- 
'^ takes and errors of other writers, by heart ; 
^^ and, particukrly, read his account of pun&u^ 
^' at]on«---for you are deficient in it. Send me 
^ the iHunes of die Council at Madras, and, if 
^^you can, of their friends and connexions 
«< in £n|^d ; that I may apply properly for 
'Uetters of recommendattoli lor you» Your 
lift of things Ihall be duly anfwered. If you 



<c 



CHARLES MACRLIN. yjT. 

^^ can fend fome prefents to Lady Mexbo« 
*^ rough. Lady Stanhope, and Mifs Fanny, 
•* coft what they will, I will be at the expencc 
*^ ofthcm ; and could you fend a gown, or a 
*« trifle, to Neddy Delaval, for Mifs Sally, it 
*^ would be proper, and well taken. The 
^^ Dolphin man of war,, that conveys this let- 
"ter, carries out a gentleman of the name of 
*' BreretoHy to view the wx>rks of fome fbrtift- 
** cation, belonging to the French in India, 
** which our people have obliged them to dc- 
** molifh, of which the French have complained 
*' to our Court, and this Mr. Brereton is to 
*^ report the ftate of the works, and the con- 
" duft of the French and EngKih, rcfpe6kmg 
^* this dilputc, to oqr Court, in order that they 
•* may be able to give a proper an^er to th^ 
'• remonftrance of the Court of France, on that 
^* fiibjed. I Ihall write to you at large by tht 
^ annual fliips, and ftiaU fend you a cbcft of 
" wine, and other things. Mr. P^fiWr Corbet 
** has fhewn me a letter from his fon, per Cin- 
** gingo. Fray, why did not you write by due 
^' &me (hip } He tells me, tgo^ thathis fen had 
Bb2. 



37? THt LIFE or 

*' the honor of copying the general letter^ 
^' which was fcnt by the Prefident and Coun- 
*' cil to the Direftors. I hope that, fome time 
" or other, you wiU write a hand good enough, 
" and arrive at merit fufficient, to be entrufted 
f* with that fervicc. Do you recoUeft in what 
** manner you fealed your letter to me of the 
" 1 6th of September, 1769, from Fort St; 
*' George ? I do not think you do. The cafe 
" in which it was enclofed to Mr. Corbet, was 
". fealed direftly on the feal pf my letter ; fo 
" that the wax of the cafe melted the wax of 
" my letter, and fo mixed with it, thro' the cafe, 
" that there was no qpening the cafe, without 
" opening my letter at the fame time. Be 
" more attentive to this in future j and pray, 
*' Sir, in good manners, ought you not to have 
*' faid fomething in your cafe, dircfted to Mr. 
•' Corbet, about the health of his foil, or of 
'^ your own obligations to him for his trouble 
^' of forwarding my letters to me ? Such omif- 
" fions are great indecorums, and will always 
"make enemies in fociety; whereas, the con- 
"trary behaviour, will always make friends. 
" You fhould never omit acknowledging the 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 213 

** moll trifling civility, from any pcrfon j fuch 

^' coiiduft marks attention and gratitude* It 

*^s by fuch qualities, and integrity, and in- 

** duftry, that you muft hope to rife in your 

** ftation. My beft refpcfts wait on Mr. 

'* H^lngs. I had the pleafure of feeing his 

'* brother, and fifter, and nephew, fome time 

'* fincc 5 they were then very well. Pray re- 

** member me to Mr. Thomas Corbet, and Mr. 

^ '* Garrow. Mr. Corbet and I drank all your 

" healths the other day very fincerely. I am, 

*^ my dear Child, with the warmeft afFeftion^ 

'* your moft anxious Father^ 

'^Charles Macklin.^' 

" Dublin, March 2, 177 1. 
« Dear Child, 

" I wrote to you by the Salifbury, and by 
y that vefTel your cheft went. You are much- 
" indebted to your friend, Mr. Peter Corbet, 
" for his care in Ihippbg it, and for your 
^^ wine — fpr, without his afliftance, you would 
^' not have had any. The rcafon is this : the 
^f Captains of th^ Indiamen, petitioned againft 
Bbj 



374 . THE LIP« OF 

** the writers hdving any wine, or any thing 
^f extraordinary fent out totfaenw as that inn- 
*' dcrcd the 6k of their freight. Howerer, 
'^ the Direftors continued the ordinary {Hrivi* 
'* leges to the writers, but woifld not iiifier 
'^ any wine to be fent to theiti. Mr. Coii)et 
" dif covered, Aat one of the writens, at-P<»t 
*' St. George, would not have any tthing fcnt 
"him this year by his friends; he,theidbre, 
" got leave to fend your chcft in his name. 
*' You will receive 50L from Captain Morris, 
** through your friend Corbet's care. 1 hope 
'* you will never forget the fbrvices ihat he 
^^hasdone you and me; for, he that forgets 
'* even trifling fervices, cannot be of a right 
"natiuic. 

^^.My health and ifpirits are good; your 
"mother too is tolerable, and fends you all 
^' that^aimother can fend from z good heart. 
*' I am at eafe here; am high in fame, and ^my 
" profits fully content me. In your letters to 
" me, pray do not forget your friends, Sayer, 
" Chetwynd, and Neddy the philoibpber, who 
" has a fincere regard^for you ; and alfo Ladies 



^^ Mcxborough ai^ Stanhope. Pray be more 
*^ ample in your letters to me. There is no 
^* news of any importance here, unlefs a riot 
** by the weavers, about the Parliament Houfe, 
" may be deemed fo. The caufe of it was — 
" the Court unexpeftedly having a majority, 
** the mob wanted to demolifli fome of thofc 
^^ that d^ierted the patriots : — bigt it is all i^Qy 
'^ impertinent, ^d licentious. T^ Court 
*^ carry every thing iri f ar l^wife both Iwre 
^^ and in Eng^d* Yojur bufmef^ is not pp}i- 
<* tics i apply yourfelf to commerce, and tearn 
^^ to be an i;^ful fervant to your employers, 
^ and a man of charafber acnong^your aflbci- 
^^ ates; for, without charadber, life is of Iktle 
^' comfort. I am, my dear Child, 

•^ Your affcftionate Father, 

« Charks Mackiin.*' 



Bb4 



37^ "I^HB tIFE 09 

Cftap, XV, 

^' London, May 3d, 177 1, 

''Dcv Child, 

^ T> Y the Colebrook I have written two let- 
-Lf <c ^rs to you, and one- to Mr. Haitings, 
*^ in which I have requcfted him to take you 
*' along with him to Bengal, and to let you 
^' have 50I. or more, fliould you wapt it, which 
^' I Ihall repay to Mr. Woodman, who is in 
^^health. I Jhould have told youj, in my let- 
^' ter before, that I had two fuits of Irifli ma- 
'^ nufa^ture for Mr. Hs^ngs's wearing, which 
*^werc feized at Parkgatc, to my no fmalj 
" inoxtification. 

" Mr. Haftings is now appointed to the pre- 
^' fidency of Bengal, (o the general fatisfac- 
" tion of all parties. — This is a noble inft^ce 
" of thejuftice and wifdomof the prcfciit Dir 
^' rcftors, and a proof of the worth of Mr. 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 377 

•^ Haftings^ who is a bright example for you, 
^' Sir, and all young men, to look up to— for 
^^ it is his virtue, as a man, and his abilities 
^' and fidelity, as a fcrvant of the Company, 
^f that have been his patrons in this promo^ 
" tion 5 and worthier, or more potent patrons, 
*^ he could not have; — and, by thcfc patrons, 
^' and thefe only, the Gentlemen in Leadcnhall- 
•^ Street, one and all, have declared, that they 
^* will be direAed in all future promotions. 
** This incident of your moft: excellent patron's 
*^ promotion to Bengal, will, I think, be a 
** criterion of your charafter and oondudli, r^f- 
<• pefting your utility as a fervant of the Com- 
*' pany, and the ufe that you have made of th^ 
^^ example and countenance of Mr. Haftings. 
*^ If your improvement and diligence in your 
** ftation have been fuch as to have merited 
'^ approbation ; and if your manners and mcf-« 
'' rals are unimpeachable, I ihall conclude, 
^' that fuch kind of conduft lias fo conciliated 
*? the acknowledged benevolence of Mn 
*^ Haftings to your intereft, that you will 
^^ have the honor and invaluable happinefs of 
(' attending him to Ben^, which is in his 



37$ ^«« WF« ow 

<< power to e&&i mA it is the. opinion of 
^ ftuuijr herc> that he will <Se& it» Ihwld yoci 
^ fiand ia iudb a predieaoieni: with lum, as to 
''merit the promotkmi but fhould you he left 
^ isckind him^^t Fort St. George^ the conchi- 
cc £oix is dbnrious'^^&r it will indirei5tily pioye^ 
'' dutt you inave not betn ahfe ix> turn yxEir 
'' eiiaoiiaan» iinderfbandifig« and &rour;9ble op^ 
'' porfiumty^ to the xuly ufe for which th^y 
<* wcK pycn yiMi; whkh h, thatofgaioing ^e 
^ patronage aod frioadflttp of good ^ vir-* 
«< tuous iDen<*— the fureft and sn^ Imdtble 
'' means to profperity aosd fanne in yxmr jGtua- 
^ tioB — Dfligence^pmdence^ duacaifber^ healthy 
'^ and fortune^ are the wife and lore grada- 
<' tiom> in your precficamejit^ ^ I haive always 
** preached to you 9 and I kopt that you witt 
" never lofe fi^ of tte doiftrinc. Sir, I have 
'' iexpeneaced, that a mao^ in ik&yftattonof 
" life whatever, fhould never be off his guacd 
^ ^-^z Scotdfiman never is :^^he never Htm a 
<' moment ^Ktemfor^ : — and this is the trut 
'* reafon of dieir fuccefs in whatever they un- 
** dertakc. — They carry tbis wife and obviops 
<< rejoark with .them thsoughout fheif i»oft- 



CHARiLiS MACK^^LIN. J79 

^^tninute intercourfe/mth ami; namelyii that 

*^ ^arery map is in ;a ftate of eflxiilata(m;rdpc&'- 

^ ing wodbdly intcreft ; ijnftt they are iU %ies 

«* upon the tmorals, capacity, and puHutts of 

^* one another,-~efpcdally in the fame pcofet 

-*' fions andiindertakiqgs, — ^and riiatihe'di%Eac- 

^' ing the morab aiul capacity of a icompetitoff, 

'^ and anticipating his defigns, arethetfore mcarts 

*^ of railing and promoting our own. Nor is 

^^*This remark, or the policy that accontpa« 

** nies it, peculiar to the Scot, or to anyma- 

"ttionj— sfll men ptadife it in a degtec.-i- 

" Therefore, a fiient tongue, arcferve, inor- 

** dinary as well ^sin party matters, are pni- 

'^^ dent qualitiesin a.young and dependant man. 

^^ What makes this le&ure more juft and war- 

^^ rantable in me, at this junfture, is ^ conver- 

^:&tion that pafied between Mr. Sayer and 

*' myfelf a few dajrs ago. In a vifit that 1 made 

** him, he told me that he was foriy to hear, 

" * that you had the character of an idle, cx- 

'^ penfive, prating young man ; and that you 

** had been degraded, ordifmiffed, for your bc- 

*' haviour'— ^thie he faid had been whifpered. 

** about upon tiic arrival of the Lapwing, {by 



386 TN8 LIFE 6t 

^' which, en pajfantj you had noc the af&dion, 
•* or even civiUty, to let me hear from you) I 
^< think it is not in your power to imagine how 
" fevercly he felt this fuppofed truth, and 
** what a violent effeft it had upon me. We 
'^ parted, each refolving, if poffible, to come 
^^ at the trudi of the whifper, and to meet ^ain 
** the next day, 

" What I felt during the interval you may ^ 
^' partly judge, by the refolution that I made, 
" fliould the whifper prove true; which was, to 
** alienaie you from my heart for ever^ and leave 
♦* you to that courje and confequence^ that fdlenefs 
" and dijordet Jbould caft you into. This was 
" likewifc the determination of Mr, Sayer, who 
" agreed with me in the ob&rvation, that when 
** young minds, in your orderly ftation, once 
" become diforderly, they are not worthy of 
. " any farther attention, advice, or expence j — 
<* for they generally are irreclaimable. How- 
** ever, we met the next day, and, to our great 
^' fatisfadion, we could not colled a fingle 
" evidence or circumftance that could fupport 
^* >thc charge that the whifper contained, nor 



CHARI^BS MACKLIIT. jSt 

*' that impeached any part of your condu<5b« 
*^ This you muft think afForded great confola* 
*' tion to my heart, and fatisfaftion to Mr. 
'^ Sayer ; but ftill you fee the whifper wis, 
^^ though neither the whifperer nor the founda- 
^^ tion for it could be traced. This ought to 
" be an admonition to you concerning your 
" conduftj for I daily find, that the moft 
** trifling aiFairs of the moft trifling perfons 
." amongft you, in the Eaft, are tranfmitted to 
*' this town, and with improvements you may 
*" imagine. You have no friend or fortune to 
'* depend upon now, but your own good con- 
" duft : by that you muft ftanjd or fall. While 
*' you behave with prudence and honor to 
" your employers and to fociety, I will do 
'^ what I can to fupport you, for fo long you 
^^ will be an honor and comfort to me, and 
** you will merit my affcftipn and fupport. 
*^ Whenever the conduft of a child proves the 
*^ rcyerfe of this, it is a fore afflidlion and dif- 
" grace to the parents. About the latter end of 
" this month, I ftiall remove my goods to Dub- 
** lin, where I intend to fettle for the remain- 
" dcrofmy life; nor (hall I, in probability. 



382 THX LI9S OF 

*• return even as a vifitor to Engliwid' fcr (bmc 
*' years, if ever: — {o that, you fee, I fhall not 
'* have any opportunity of making' any new, or 
" of cultivating any old interefts for you. To 
" God and your own prudence I refign you. 
'^ I jfhould have been in Ireland a fortnight 
" ago, but that I ftayed to fee the event of a 
** trial for damages claimed by Mr. Harris and 
" the other proprietors of Covent-Gardcn from 
*^ Colman. In about three weeks this bufinefs 
** is to be determined, I have no opinion that 
*^ any good can arife from it to Mr. Harris. 
" The inftrument of partnerfliip, or manage- 
^^ ment rather, is fo cunningly driwn (though 
*^ unequitably) on Colman*s fide. There has 
*' been an idle report fpread here, of your 
*^^fifter being married to a French dancing 
" mafter, but without the leafl: foundation. 
'^ I mention it while I think of it, that you 
" may not be furprifed, and that you may con- 
'^ tradia it, fliould it reach your part of the 
" world. All friends here are well. Adieu. 

" Charles Macklin/' 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 383 

London, Augaft 6th, 177 !• 

*^ My dear Child, Per the Lapwing. 

** Did you conceive what fatisfeftion a kttcr 
** from you gives to your mother, and me, and 
** what diftrcls when we find that you have 
*' omitted making ufe of the opportunities of 
*^ writing that prefcnt thcmfclves to you, I am 
*' certain that you would not be fo cruelly di- 
" latory or remifs in difcharging that duty fo 
*' eflential to your mother's happinefs and 
** mine. Only ccmfider what we both feel at this 
'^ moment : the Lapwing arrived fome months 
** ago. MciTrs. Button, Corbet, Garrow, 
** Woodman, and every body had letters; but 
" not one for me. Now the Vanfittart, and all 
<' the ihips from Bengal, Madras, Coaft and 
** Bay, are almoft ^rived, and no letter for 
*' me. I am fingle in this diftrefs ; for every 
^^ other perfbn I know, that has any connedion 
*^ in the Eaft Indies, has received accounts and 
*^ letters, but myfelf. What can I think of this 
" conduft in you ? What will the world think 
*' of fu<;h fhimeful unkindnefs to parents ?— • 
" The only account or hint of your being even 



** alive. Is a report which comes from MadniSi 
" that you were about to come home. I afked 
*' the caufli of* your coming home, and was 
'* given to underftand that it was your whim 
'* or caprice. Do you not think that this is a 
" moft alarming report to me and your mo- 
^' thcr ? I hope it is without the fliadow of a 
** foundation. You could not furcly be fa mad 
" as to think of fuch an unpardonable, fuch an 
'* impolitic ftcp — an indifcretion never to be 
" atoned for. — Mr. Sayer could not credit it—* 
" fuch a ftep would be your ruin. If you ever 
" had fuch a thought, I beg that you will dif- 
" charge it^ as the moft indifcreet, that ever 
"could, in your fituation, poflcfs your- mind. 
" Before this will reach you, the news of Mn 
^^ Haftings being appointed to the government 
" of Bengal will be known at Madras^ By the 
*' fhip that carries him his commiflion 1 have 
" wrote to you, and a letter to him requefting 
" that he will take you with him to Bengal, 
" and begging that he will advance you one 
" hundred pounds^ and that he will> through 
" his brother, Mr. Woodman, draw upon njc 
" for that fum, which I fhall anfwcr at fight* 



£hARL£S MACKLIKT. ^8^ 

** Should the event of your going to Bengal 
*^ take place^ it will be a convincing ptoof 
" that you have had the virtuous attention 
" to cultivate an intereft with Mr. Haftings j 
^' a circumftahce which I fliall look upon 
'^ as the happieft incident of your life, and a 
^^ proof, as I have obferved before, of your 
^' virtue, arid of your knowledge of your duty, 
" and your intereft. As to this part of the 
*' world, you muft not expeft any intereft from 
.*' it. My caft of life is Retirement and ftudy ; 
*^ that paiQon gains ftrength hourly — therefore, 
^* I am not in the way of attendmg the great at 
^' Court, or at Leadenhall-Street. I have of*- 
" ten told you, ^ that every man ought to be 
*^ the maker of his own fortune, or, the marrei* 
"of it.' I repeat the dodtrlne:— he who de- 
" pends upon inceflant induftry and . inte- 
" grityj depends upon patrons of the nobleft, 
" the moft exalted kind j they more than 
," fupply the place of birth and anceftry, or 
*' even of royal patronage 5 they are the crca- 
*^ tors of fortune and fame, the founders of 
'^^milies, and never can difappoint or deftrt 
'' yoy« They control all human dealings, sifid 
Vol. II C c 



3S6 THE Lift or 

**turn even viciffitudds of unfortunate tefl- 
'* dcncy to a contrary nature. You have genius^ 
" you have learning, you h^ve induftryi at timts^ 
" but you want perfevtrance j without it 5rou 
" can do nothing. I bid you weir your motto 
'* in your mind conftantly— *" PBRSEVEiiE.** 
^^ But let me do you and fame juftice. Re- 
*^ port fays, that you are clever in your bufi- 
'' nefs. If flie fays true in this, I will forgive 
*' her all the bad things that fhe ever faid, or 
" Ihall fay, of you or me. This is your, time 
^* for application to ftudy and bufincfs. Thii 
^' is your time to fix a charadcr for clcvcrnefi, 
^* for good-nature, integrity, diligence, and 
'^ honor. If you do not make thefe impref- 
** lions now, while you arc a writer, you never 
*^ can do it afterwards j for the reputation of a 
•* man is for ever fixed, by the firft imprcffion 
*' that he make* upon the vwrW, by the do- 
** ittgs of his firft ftcp into it. Let the good 
•• opinion of men be your firft aim — your 
** means of acquiring thAt, are by diligence and 
'* integrity : a nicety of integrity I mean. 
^ Ever remember, tiiat all party^ of what Idnd 
f^ foevcr, 18 the madnefs of the many, {ot the 



CHARLES MACKli^IN. 387 

^' intercft bf the few. Party, Sir, ever has a 
^^ ftrong fpecies of flandcr, cruelty^ malice> 
** and injuftice in it; and teems with ingrati- 
*^ tude to thofei who have been moft warm 
^^ and moft ferviceible in its purfuits. I)e- 
*^ jpend upon it, that it is pregnant with 
*^ thcfe qualities. Obferve daily in your own 
*' little world — do not you find lies, flarider, 
^' and injuftice, in a fmall degree, mix in 
^^ the dealings and converfations of parties ? 
^' Nay, if you are of ^ny party yourfelf, I will 
^' refer you to an infallible intelligence, to 
*^ fupport what I hare advanced, which isj 
^' your own mind. Look into it ; if it be 
*^ heated With party, it will, on refleftion, in- 
^' form you of its own nature. Let that be 
" your tutor ; let it teach you to beget a po- 
^^ litical coolnefs, nay, an indifference in thit 
^^ commerce : I am fure the conduA would bd 
^•^ wife; Abruptly y while I think bf it, Ire- 
^^ quefti that you will get Louth's Englifli 
*^ Grammar by 'heart, from one tiA to the 
*' other, notes and all : by heart, I fay, for 
^' reading of it will not make you firm in the 
Gc 2 



38S THr Lirt or 

" doftriftc of it. And I daily obfcrve^ in my- 
" fclf, and others, and thofe of great note too, 
"that, without fuch knowledge, wc cannot be 
" correft in our. writing; and correAnefs in 
" Grammar is a great ornament to a gemle- 
" man, to a man of bufmefs, and to a writer i 
" and a deficiency in grammatical knowledge 
" an unpardonable difgracQ*. Pray oblige me 
*' in this rcqueft. 

" I fent Out a fmall parcel of millinery to 
^^ Mrs. Davidfon, and a letter ; I hope fhc 
" will receive them fafely. And pray inform 
" her and Mr. Davidfon,- that your mother and 

V I feel moft gratefully for their civility to 
*' you— I defirc that you will be particular in 
*^ this matter. What is the reafon that Mr. 
*^ Dutton has never once mentioned you in 
" his letters to his father ? Pray account for it 
" 4f you can. Do not you writers live well to- 
"gether? Arc you of different parties? and, 

V therefore, you will not let your humanity 
" fuffer yoii to name the health, life, or death 
" of one another ?— ^rStrange, indeed ! Pray do 
" not you prafbile that barbarity. You wrote 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 3^9 

'* to xne, in one of your letters^ that there was 
^^ no way of adding to your income^ from the 
** nature of your prcfcnt fituadon^ but by ef-. 
*' forts and endeavours in trade^ which you 
" could not make> for want of mon^y. You 
^^ therefore requefted that I would let you 
** have five hundred pounds, to buy part of a 
" country veflcl : — it was a large demand:-— I 
" wrote you an anfwcr to it: — I mull repeat 
" part of it : — Are you fit to be trufted with 
^^ five hundred pounds ? You, who were ideot 
*' enough to game away your money on your 
*^ voyage-— you, who never had praftifed any 
" game, to be fo very weak as not to know 
** that you knew nothing of play* Suppofe 
" you were defired to read a book, in a Ian-. 
(« guage that you did npt underftand ^ would 
" you attempt it ? or fuppofe that you knew the 
^* alphabet of it, would you undertake to read, 
^' explain, or tranflate it, like a mafter ? 

" If you would be fo hardy, you would nat 
^^ only be impudent, but a fool. It is exaftly 
^^ the fame in a game, as in a language. He 
Cq3 



39P TMB Lir? OF 

'^ who thinks that he is fit to pky with ^ 
^^ mailer at a game^ becaufe he knows the al- 
" phabct of it, or can fpell, will be deemed a 
^' blockheads an unfit pcrfon to be truftcd with 
** money, or bufinef$ j and will be a beggar. 
** I often told you, that there art but too forts 
" of men that game -, the man who knows, to 
"accrt^ty, how to win, and how to tofei 
'* and the bubble, who has no knowledge, but 
" who only fancks that he fhall win. And he 
*' who knows how to win, and how to iofe, 
^' will often lafe oHfnrpofe^ to give emrourage- 
^^ ment to the bubble to play on> and to make 
" him believe that the knowing m^n is igno? 
^' rant. The policy of lofing, now and then, 
•' is one, of the greateft ftrokes of cunning in 
^* this branch of commerce. A game upon the 
^* cards is not a matter of chance or hick y 
** only bubbles, or ignorant minds, talk of or 
** believe in hjck j knowing men aPc convinced 
*^ that all games are calculations, and as certain 
•* in their effefts, as calculation is a furri in 
•*. arithmedc. He who caicuktes that three 
" times three are eight, or eleven, wiH be un- 
*' done, if he deals on that calculation: fo it is 



CHAHLES MACKI.IN. J91 

^* at gamir^,-*-If you do nocbelicve me, game 

" on> aod let experience ^ndtje^apy be your 

^^ informers: they will not deceive you* Now 

^' confider, whether you are to be trufted 

*^ with 500I. You fee what an imprcffion your 

•^ firftftcp has made upon allj who haveh^aidof 

*^ your lofing your money on your voyage* 

** Juft fo, every ftep, good or bad, will be im-* 

** prclfed upon men's minds, for or agaiaft 

^* you, with this difference — that follies and 

^^ vices make a deeper impreflion agatnft mcn^ 

^* than wifdpm and virtue do in their favow 3 

« for they have rivalftiip in folly aad vice to 

f< kfkn the b^dnefs of an adion« Bi^it i$ time 

^^ to have done with t^ moraliaingi for if your 

'^ own prudence cannot get the better of a 

" paflion for folly and indifcretirin, my anxiety 

^* or lecturing will be of fio avs«l. However, 

** I cannot help difcharging my duty; I dare 

** fay, that Mcffrs Garrow^ Corbet, or Dutton, 

" have no occafion for fuch left uring. But after 

*^ all thisfermonizing,'^— ktus cometo the point, 

" I did defire you to get Mr. Haftiags, or any 

" grave Gentleman in the Council, if yo4f have 

^^ defer ved to have fuch a friend^ to fay, in a 
C c 4 



j99 I'HE LiFS or 

'* letter to Mr. Saycr, or to any friend here, 
" that you may be trufted with 500L to trade 
** with, and you (hall have it, though I were to 
** borrow it. But were you to draw from me 
^^ fuch a fum, under the hypocritical pretext 
^' of trading with it, and game it away, or 
*' diflipate it, it would be the greateft adk 
*' of cruelty that a child could be guilty 
*^ofto a parent, Age is advanced on me; 
^^ ficknefs and debility are its attendants s and, 
** to ftrip me of that little, which is to fupport 
" your mother and me, in that day when ige 
*^ and debility cannot have any fuccour, but 
^^ from paft labour and beconomy, would be a 
'* difgrace to you, that would wound my heart 
^^ deeper, than afking alms would my pride 1 
*^ — therefore think — afk your heart — alk your 
*' firmnefs — can you be trufted with that 
^^ which is to fupport your mother and m^, in 
*^ the hour of age's debility ? If you find that 
^' you dare tnift yourfelf with it, let me know 
*' it, and you ihall have it.— -Your mother has 
7 been very ill, dangeroufly fo, as the phyfi-. 
^'.cians thought — in a deep confumption, and 
(' of a rapid kind -, but thanks to God (he is 



CHARLES MACKHN. 393 

•' recovering : — herdifordcr being difcovered, 
*' wc hope that a complete cure will follow. — It 
*' isaworm complaint---intheveryftatethatyou 
'' were in — -the fame vile confuming fymptoms 
« — butlhe is recovering,to my great great hap- 
*' pinefs J — for if ever woman defcrved the fin* 
" cereft and w^rmeft eftcem, as wife and mother, 
'^ (he do^s :^-^take her bleflSng, Ihe fends it to 
*^ you. But pray, my dear, do not afflift us, by 
*' your not writing : — it is unkind, cruel,— ^ 
** What can be the caufe of it? Ifitbeindo- 
'* lence. Heavens ! what muft I think of yqu ? 
<f It can he nothing elfe 5 for you have as many 
" opportunities as any other perfon in the fct- 
^' tjement, 

" In every letter that I have written to you, 
** I have advifed you to be moft circumfpeft in 
*^ your condu6t ; for there is not a whifper 
*' pafles, in Madras, but what is heard and mag- 
^^nified in LeadenhallrStrcct. I (hall fay no 
*^ more on that head, 

*^* I defire that you never will fend me a let- 
^ ter. by a private hand, on no account j*--* 



J94 THl LIPB 0» 

♦' fend always by the packet ;^— private letters 
** frequently mifcarry, or are kept a month or 
^ two by (he perfon to whom they arc en^ 
^* trufted. My not receiving letters from yo^ 
^ has made m$ conje&urCji that your letters to 
^*xne have been mifplaced^ intercepted, ot 
^' that feme unaccountable accident has hap* 
^ pcncd to thcni^ from your prefcnt manner of 
^ dircfting thei^i ; therefore, I d^fire y9u tQ 
" direa for the fiiture thus — 

•< To Mr. Charles Macklin, at Mr, WiJ- 
*<liam Dutton% Watch-Maker, in Flcct- 
^* Street, London. 

<' I am now in Londonj, and have been fmcc 
^* the firft week in April. I came over to play 
"for Mils Macklin's benefit i^--but where I 
^* (hall be next winter is not yet determined ; 
«l believe, in London, at Covent-Garden* 
«* Their law- fair is not yet determined : — it 
" is t;o be, they fay, next Ekceitiber. I fent 
« you, by the laft Ihip, a new Pcrfian Gram- 
^^ mar ; — you hiuft njakc ^afte to matter the 



CHARLIS MAGKLIN. 395 

f' Perfiaiii or you will be too hific to gain any 
ff advantage Ijyi?, 

^' Foots lias bioiigkt out a new piece, of 
^' three aAs$— *it k followed, but n^uch difr 
*^ liked i — k is a thing' of no ingenuity : I fliall 
^^ bring out a new fire ad piece ^e eiiiutng 
^' winter^ in Londoii» or Dublin. I think well 
** of it myfcif, and fo do ibm^o>(her people. 
^ I Ihall fend you a manufcript copy of it, for 
** the curiofity of your friends ; but, pray take 
^ CM-e that no copy of it is taken — for you 
^* know, that I ihall never print any thing that 
^' I write : — let thofe that come after me have 
^' that benefit and vanity: — I fhall forego both, 
^* I know not wjiethcr I told you, in my laft 
^^ letter, that the people of France are in great 
^' confufion : the King has exiled the Parlia-. 
*^ ment, and entirely dcftroycd that inftitution -^ 
" and, in its ftead^ has cftablilhed, what i^ 
*' called, a fupreme Court of Juftice. Crca-r 
^' tures chofen out of the d|«gs of the law, to 
f * anfwer the ends, of party. It is a mere 
" mockery of the facred feat of juftice andji- 
f^ berty.-^This is done under the patronage 



39^ THE LIFE OF 

<< and influence of Madame Barre. The poll-* 
**tical Agents are one Merpeauxy and the 
** Duke D'Jguillon. Not a day pafies> as re- 
^^port fyys, without ticingmarkecl with -^ofne 
." affront, by print, effigy, epignun, or de- 
^* vice, againft the King and thcfc Agents.—- 
** The King has been obliged to double his 
<« body guards i knd is never in his coach with- 
*^ out the officer^ who commands^ is in it 
^^ along with him. This perturbation in 
^' France, it is faid, ha» been the fok caufc 
^* why the French and Spaniards have not ven- 
<* turcd to go to war with us. God blefe you. 
^* I am your mod afFedionate father, 

« Qarles Hacklin:'' 



. XVI. 



*' Holyhead, Noy^ber 9th, 1771. 
•' Dear Child, 

« npHIS letter I begin at Holyhead, on my 

jL " way to Ireland, whither I am going 

^< to undertake the management of the tHeatre 



CHARLES MACKLIBl. ^^f 

^^ in Crow-Strcct, in conjunftion with Daw/aH, 
^^ as a proprietor; but the whole conduft of it 
** is to be in me. The. fituation of the Irilh 
** ftage ftands thus : — Mofap was arrefted a few 
'^ months fmce in London^ and has been ever 
'' lincej and is now, in the ipunging houie* 
^' He cannot, if he had his liberty, make up a 
'^^ company to go to Dublin. His theatre in 
" Smock-alley will be fold j probably Dawfbn 
^' and I, between us, fhall purchafe it,—- • 
*^ Then we flxall throw \xp Barry's houie in 
" Crow-ftreet, or allow him a yearly income 
" to Ihut it up. Barry cannot oppofe us hkn- 
^' felf, being incapable from infirmides. 

*^ The managers of Covent-Garden have 
*' made up their (Juarrel. They rcqueftcd 
^' that I would play a few nights before I fet 
*' out for Ireland. I did — five, in ten days— 
** The Merchant of Venice^ and Love^a-la-^ 
'^ Mode each night, to crowded houfes. So 
'^ that I left London with as much eclat, as va- 
" nity could wifli. They received in the five 
^^ nights the fum of 1260I. and gave me 150!. 
'^ They have mvited mc to play with th«m ten 



^§i tfit LlPfi of 

^' or twenty nights each fcafon— or vrdiilci 
*^ agree with me for a term of years; but 1 
'* prefer the Dublin fchcmCj where I Ihall b^ 
*^ my own maftcr^ and can befides play iii 
^* London when I pleafe; I have left your 
•' mother in London, to pack up my books,* 
*^ and to fettle fome trifling matters of a do- 
^^ meftic nature. She is in good health zt 
^^ prefcnt. 

" I deceived yotir letter, and drafts {of iyol. 
" which I have honored. Your fhawis and 
***}iAndkerdiiefs came to hand fafe. It is in- 
** cohceivable how kindly Lady Mexborough 
" and the whole family received your prefents^ 
" Jmd your kind memoi-andum of them in your 
*^ letter^ as did Mr. Sayer. Thefe little no- 
^* ticcs of friends arc ftriftly proper-*-becaufe 
*^. they wear the alpedb of gratitude and afFec- 
** tion. I fhall leave this letter open for your 
/' dear mother^ my bed comfort, to inftrt 
'* what flic Ihall think worthy of notice. I 
*' feftt you out fifty pounds by Captain Morris^ 
*^ which I fuppofe yotl had not recciyed when 
*^ you wrote laft to me^ Pray, while I think 



•* ^Ht, what is the reafon that you omit fo 
** many opportunities of writing to me ? — it 
" offends me much — as the contrary conduft 
^* would be a gfcat comfort to me. Ncglcft 
** of writing to a parent, at fu^h a diftance as 
" we are, wears an ungrateful afpcdt; but I 
*^ have faid fo much .on this head, in former 
^^ letters, that it pangs me fcverely to repeat 
** my complaint* I am very forry that you 
^' have been fo ill; that we cannot help- — it is 
<* the lot of nature) therefore, that, and even 
*^ death, we ought to fubmit to- with chcer- 
" folncfs i but dilhonourable or fhameful afts 
" never can be fubmittcd to by me in a dhild; 
" nor ought a child ever tx> forgive himfelf for 
" fuch condud* Your drafts were unexpcded 
€< — bcfidcs, they fell heavy on>.me, as I was 
" not fo well prepared for them as I could wifti* 
•* However, I fliall pay them, though I muft 
^' remark, that 170L wai too large a fum for 
*^ trdtT or teconomy to draw for j and Ihews 
^* that your conduct is not fo regular as I could 
** wilh^ I have written to Mr. Haftings to 
^* g^ve you credit for lOoL dnd to requeft that 
*^ ht will take you with him to Bengal, (hould 



406 tH£ LIFE Of 

** your behaviour dcfcrvc it. If you do ft6t gd 
** with him, I do not think that you will be fo 
" extravagant as to take up the lool. I beg 
" that Fmay hear from you as oftsen as polfibk. 
*^ Dear Sir Francis Delaval is dead, of a pain 
" in his breaft; but his diffolution was ex- 
" pcftcd for a year paft. I am this inftant or- 
" dered on board the packet 9 but fhall write 
" again from Dublin*" 

[Here follows the conclufion of the fgrc- 
gobg letter] 4 

" I muft oblcrve to you, that my undef- 
" taking, at Dublin, is of a precarious nature; 
-** not to be relied on, as a certdn affair; 
" therefore, I requeft that you will not draw 
*^ upon me again for money. As foon as it is 
** in my power to remit you a fum, to help 
*^ you in yoUr purfuit in trade^ be affured 
'^ that I (hall do it cheerfiilly, without your 
** importunity. If I do not fend you any, you 
" muft conclude that it is not in my power.— 
*' I am now landed in Dublin, and in health; 
'' but I find that age has its influence : I caimot 



Charles macklin. 46! 

*^ fupport fatigue, or travelling, or bufincfs, as 
" I was wont. No wonder ;' I am of a great 
" age, and at a time of life when I ought to 
'^ enjoy the eafe of retirement : — but it cannot 
" be :— I mull work, and will, while I can, 
** for thofe whom nature and attachnlent have 
** bound to mc-— and me to them. I have al- 
*' ways laboured more for them than for my- 
*' felf, and that ought to make you very cau- 
** tious how you diftrefs me by demands : I fay 
'* it ought, in gratitude and prudence^ There 
** is no quality that commands more refpcd 
** than integrity ; none freedom and indcpen^ 
" dence, more than oeconomy* They are all I 
** have, ^ith induftry, to depend upon ; and, 
** ftiould you make them the rulers of your 
^^ conduct, you muft be happy ; without them 
" you never can. I am fo hurried with bufi- 
*^ nefs, that I cannot attend to any ntws about 
** politics. I have fent you a Frenchman's 
•' Voyage to the Eaft Indies. He is Oriental 
*^ Profeffor to the French King. I think the 
" book will be of fervicc to you. I have like-* 
" wife fent you Blackftone's Commentaries on 
VoLIL ' Pd 



402 THE LIFE Of 

*' the Laws of England, a moft valuable per- 
*' formancc, and well worth your ftudy. Send 
*' me a particular account how Mr. Haftings 
** behaved concerning my letter to him, rc- 
*' fpefting his taking you with him to Bengal. 
*' I think I fo ftated my requcft, as not to ex- 
** cite any idea of indecorum, in the manner or 
'* matter of it, in fo benevolent a mind as his, 
'* If I thought it did, it would give me a very 
*^ great concern, for, of all men in fociety, the 
*' liberal and virtuous, for fuch all men fay he 
" is ;— and thofe, I fay, are the laft that I would 
" offend, by improper or impertinent requefts. 
" Lady Mexborough, Lady Stanhope, and the 
" houfc of Delaval, dcfire to be remembered 
*' to you, in wiflies for your profperity -, as do 
*^.Mr. Chctwynd and family, who are well; Mr. 
*^ Sayer thanks you for the handkerchiefs. Ifhall 
*' leave the following fpace fof your dear mother 
*^ to fill up. Why did you not take fome notice 
" of your fifter in your letter, or write to her, or 
" your aunt ? Shameful neglefts.— -I have 
" fent you all the Perfiaii bopks that I could 
" coUedt. I could not get the Life of Chrift, 
" nor Warner's Proverbs. You will fee, by 



CHARLES MACICLIN* 403 

♦' the French Orientalift's work that I fend you, 
** how very neccffary it is to learn the Eaftcrn 
^^ langiragesj and how they are to be acquired*. 
•' I think it a very inftru6tive book for you* 
*' You ought to read it with great care, and imi- 
*' tatc the conduft of the author. Obferye what 
5' a noble pcrfeverance inspired him : it is amoft 
f ' noble fpirif.— I early advifed you to take the 
** vtth per/evere for your motto. — I am toldj 
<* John, that you profefs bcmg a wit, and 
^* very farcallic. I am forry for it ; be- 
f^ caule it is a fure way of making enemies. A 
^^ fevere joke is an injury that finks deep in the 
" heart, and what men ne\rcr forgive. It fixes 
^' a rooted hatred in the mind. But I have laid 
^< much on this head before. Adieu.'' 

c Mr. John Macklin, however, retui-ned to 
England, foon after, from Fort St. George, 
and confequcntly very much difobliged his fa- 
ther, who had been put to great expencc m fit- 
ting out his fon, and who entertained fanguine 
hopes, that he fliould, before he died> fee him 
make a figure in the commercial world«— 
D42 



4C4 THB hlft Of 

Shortly 'ifter thtSj Mr. Macklin's Ton turned his^ 
inind CO the ftudy of the law^ and entered himfelf 
of the Temple, where he continued fprfome timCi 
jknd particularly diftinguifhed himfelf among his 
feUow ftudents for hi3 learning, and knowledge 
of the laws and conftitution. Put the dry (tudy 
pf the law* and the flow progrffs to eminence^ 
that thofe, who embrace that profeflion, make, 
as he conceived, diigufted him all on a fudden^ 
and direded hU ardent Ipirit to another pur* 
fuit. He entered into the military fesvice, and 
became a very excellent officer. He ferved in 
the American war with great ability;^ and was 
confidered, by the Commander in Chief, as a 
gentleman, to whofe ikill, bravery^ and intre^ 
pidity, an enterprize of the greateft moxaent 
might fafely be entnifted. The hardfhips and 
fatigues^ to which hfi was n^cefT^rily ei^pofed^ 
during hi9 feryice in America^ brought on hiip 
a complication of diforders, and reduced his 
<:onftitution to the loweft poflibleitate of d^bi^ 
iity. He returned again to England^ but ne- 
ver after recovered. He had a locked jaw (Qt 
Ibme years before^ bis diiTolutioin. . He WW 
buried in Covcnt-Garden^ 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 40.5 



C|>ap. XVII. 

'TpHE hand of tittic begad ncWv to inakt 
-*■ very vifiblc imprefEons, on the faeultier 
t>f Mn Mack^, whofe debility of mind, and 
infirmity of body, were confiderably increafcdj^^ 
by narrow, we had almoft faid indigent^ cir-^ 
cumftances. However, by the advice of his 
friends, his two plays, viz. Th Man of tbt 
Worldy and Love-a-la-modCy yntttj imder the 
fuperintendance of Afr*. Murphy, firft printed, 
and offered to the publte by fubfcription j 
when the large contributions of fevcral iltuftri^ 
ous and dtfttnguiihed charaftersy the Literati, 
admirers and profeflors of thedramaj amounted 
to upwards of 1500L which fum, under the 
direftion of Dr. Brocklelby, John Pahner 
Efq. and Mr. Longman, tniftee^ was laid outi 
(in conformity to the propofals, which had 
been made to the public) in the purchafe of an 
annuity of 200I. for Mr. Mackfin, and 75I. for 
Mrs. Elizabeth Macklin, his wife, in cafe fhe 
Ddj 



406 THE LIFE OP 

furvivcd him. This comfortable provifioo 
feemcd to re^vc the old man's drooping fpi- 
ritSj and had an amazing efFeA upon his facul* 
ties. His mind became eafy^ and tranquiU and 
his memory grew better. This fubfcriptioh 
reflects the higheft credit on Bridih benevo- 
lenccj and the lift of fubfcribers> that is prefixed 
to the printed pla/s, will go down to pofterity, 
as anoble record of the fubfcribers* bounty, and 
the aftor's merit. During the time of the fub- 
fcription, Mrs. Jordan wrote Mr. MackHn the 
foUowmg letter. 

" Somerfet-Strcet, 1791. 
*' Sir, 

^* I have done myfelf the pleafure of fub« 
** fcribing to your works ten pounds, and re- 
" queft you will accept the fame, from me, 
"every year, in remembrance and refpeft 
^' of your fuperior abilities. 

" I am. Sir, your fincere admirer, 

" and humble fervknt, 
'' Mr, Charles Macklm, " Dora Jordan.*' 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 4O7 

An application was afterwards made to Mrs. 
Jordan, for her promifed annual fubfcription, 
but, ftrange to relate, this lady did not deign 
to return even an anfwcr. It is but jiiftice to 
both parties to relate this circumftance : — as 
Mrs. Jordan moft unqueftionably received all 
the merit and praife due to her, for h.tv promifed 
Uherality j becaufe her letter addreffed to Mr. 
Macklin, was enclofed under cover to Mr. John 
BeU, Bookfeller, in the Strand; was handed 
about in his fliop, as a teftimony of her gene- 
rofity, and announced publicly in the newlpa- 
pers : — but, left the world fliould be mifled, in 
regard to this particular, we can afliire the pub- 
lic, from the moft undoubted authority, that 
Mr. Macklin never received one fingk (hilling 
Irom Mrs. Jordan, fubfequent to the period of 
her firft fubfcriptron. — Mr. Macklin, it is true, 
applied to her, in purfuance of the requeft, 
contained in her own letter, for her annual fub- 
i[cription, but was not honored with an ^n* 
Iwer. The fum of the tranfaftion is this; — 
Mrs. Jordan had all the merit of the bounty i 
Mr. Macklin had not the benefit of it. 
D d 4 



408 THS LIFE OF 

Mr. Macklin's health ftill contmued h % 
moft furprifing degree. — He walked about tht 
town frequently ; — he ate with an appetite, 
drank heartily, . flcpt foundly, and felt no pain, 
— He declined to the graye^ while redgnation 
gently floped his way, 

In the year 1795, it became the wiftx of a few 
of Mr. Macklin's friends, that he fhould fpeak a 
congratulatory addrefs on the Stage,, the firft 
night that their Royal Highnefles the Prince and 
Princcfs of Wales ftiould honor Covent-Garden 
Theatre with their prefence, febfeq|uent to 
their royal marriage. As it was known that 
their Majefties, and the whole of the Royal 
Family, would be prefent, a fhort interlude, 
written by a Gentleman, eminent for his lite- 
rary attainments, and many Ihining qualities, 
was prepared, for the purpofe of introducbg 
Mr. Macklin to the royal prefence ; and could a 
reliance have been placed upon the memory of 
Mr. Macklin, during the delivery of the Ad- 
drefs, we have no doubt but that the Ihort in^ 
terlude, would have been pleafing to the Royal- 
Family ii and, from being unexpected by the 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 4O9 

audtenee^ would have produced, in the thc^ 
atre> an eleftrical effed» equally furprifing as 
a^eeable: — but> as the memory of Mr* Macklm 
was in fo treacherous a ftatc, that it could not 
be depended on> during the repetition of fo . 
Ihort a taik, — the dcfign, though good, was 
not carried into execution,— -W!c Ihall take the 
liberty of inferting the Interlude here, for the 
CVfiofity of our readers.*---* 

CharaStry af the Interhde-^^'^ 

Hymetiy 
Cupid, and 
Macklin^ 

Sane— 'Covent -Garden Tbeafre, 
Enter Time, 

FoUowedimperceptiblybyHY MEN and Cupid. 

Ti M E.— Juft come from a long converfation 
with Death — only wanted to get his promife 



410 THE LIFE OP 

not 16 fummon a fine old veteran^ all the world 
knows i and who is as old and as hearty z» 
an Engliih oaks and whofe company I want a 
fitde longer here below>-— and the inexorable 
tyrant could fcarcely be perfuaded to hear what 
I had to fay i— -faid^ he would make no fuch 
promife ;— and 

Cupidy (advancing,) And threatened to cut 
you in two with your own fcythe, oldGende* 
man, unlefs you hobbled ofi^*-«->ha ! ha ! ha! — 
Aye, aye> you are too near relations to be 
friends — and art fomewhat of the oldeft to turn 
fuitor ha ! ha ! ha ! 

Hymen, (advancing,) You and I, bloom^ 
ing in eternal youth, are more proper for that 
office, my dear Cupid. You, Time, are a 
mortal. 

Time. — Perhaps fo ; but I fancy your God-n 
fhips would find yourfclyes as difappointed in 
your application as myfelf, — mortal though I 
am. 



charles'macklin. 411 

Cupid. — Fm of a difFerent opinion^ old 
fcythe -bearer 5— as a proof of which, we have 
fucceeded, where you have failed. 

Hymen. — And while you were limping 
back,with a load of iU*luck, we have carried our 
point, and are now on the wing to communicatt 
the tidings to the very veteran you fpeak of. 

Time. — What do I hear ! How did you 
bring old death to this ? 

Cupid. — Aslg^ moft things, by coaxing* 
You muft pofitively put off your vifit, faid I^ 
to a certain merry old mortal of our acquaint- 
ance, till the Father of the Stage has paid his 
re§>eas to the Father of his Country. 

Hymen.— I am not to be fported with, f^d 
Death : when I call at people's houfcs, I cxpeft 
them to be ready and prepared for me, 

Cupid.— -And, faid I, come, my dear 
friend, I rule Gods and men, youluiow, and 
'tis my royal pleafure, as well as my mother's 



4td THE tIFE or 

-*-[Hcrc I ftrokcd his old bony fecc with the 
feathered patt of one of my arrows] -*-that 
you grant my fuit. This night are iiilftmbledj, 
in one point of view, all that my family moft 
love and honor upon earth. 

Hymen, — I have but rccendy come from 
celebrating the nuptials of a new and royal pain 

Cupid • — Whofe bofoms I have chofch as the 
repofitory of two of my beft arrows ; and we 
have determined to gratify the veteran, who is 
^e objeft of our prefent appeal, with once 
more Ihewing himfelf to the Prince and people 
of England. 

Hymen.— With whom he has long lived. 

Cupid. — And for whom he has been ever 
ready to die : — fo touch him if you dare, old 
boy — my dart to yours ! 

Time. — And Death was fafcinated, hey J 
Hafte then, to tell my old favourite, I wiU^ oti 



CHARLES MACRLIN. 4IJ 

this occafion, throw afidc my crutches, and try 
my old wings. 

Cup^p* — ^Ypu may fpare your old wings th« 
trouble-p-rour young ones have been before 
you. See, here comes the very veteran w«; 
have been talking of. 

Hymen.— Let us run to his afliftancc, 

\^Exsunt in bafie^ Hymen and Cufid^ 

Ti ME.— Well done, youngftcrs* Old Timb 
muft bring him into the pre/erne — and to takje % 
laft look pf his friends. \^Enit Time. 

[Here Mr. Macklin was to enter, fupportcd 
by Hymen and Cupidy and to be kd forward by 
Time.l 

Mr. Macklin. 
Then I have gain'd a triumph-r-i?2r^ more day! 
Th' overflowing homage of my heart to pay. 
All the kind patrons of my youth and age, 
King ! Prinm ! fefiplel^'cxt I quit the.ftagci 



1 



414 '^^^ ^'^^ ^^ 

Brief let me be, for* Time himfclf ftands ftill 

[^Pointing to Time. 
While my laft loyal wifhes I reveal. 
Reveal them ! No ! there is a paffion ♦ here 

♦ [Laying bis band upon bis breajl. 
Too ftrong for words — Ah, read it in the tear. 
On Life's laft ftage, tho' " booing*' to a throne. 
The Man o' the World can weep for love 

alone; 
Sirs, 'tis my free-will gift, no fordid mafk, 
Pvenow, ontbisjide Heaven, noboohtoafk; 
But I N that Heav'^n, fliould mercy place me there. 
My native land flfall have my angel prayer: 
Sovereign andJubjeSlSy Ihould I fenfe retain. 
Or memory of mortal things remain. 
Shall fill your MacUin's renovated powers. 
And his new fpirit, like his old, be ♦ yours^ 
[* Bowing to every part of tbe Audience y be-- 
ginning witb tbe King^s box, and going round. 
Enough! and now indulgent Time and Deatb^ 
Strike when ye may-— you're welcome to my 

breath. 
But may eternal funfhine fire the ball. 
Ere Britain Jinks, or Brunjwick'sftar Ihall &!!> 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 4I5 



€m* XVIIL 



ALTHOUGH the veteran Shylock had 
not the Opportunity of difplaying, on the 
ftagc, the over-flowing homage of his heart, 
to his King, Princes, and people, yet he had the 
good fortune to be particularly r^oticed by the 
Royal Family ;— as foon as their Royal High- 
nefles, the Prince and Princefs of Wales en- 
tered the theatre, they were received by the 
audience with rapturous applaufe, and with a 
fucceflion of plaudits and acclamations, that 
laded fevcral feconds. When thefe public tef* 
timonies of joy began to fubfide, Mr. Macklin, 
who was feated on the third row in the pit, ftill 
continued applauding, and accompanied his 
evident joy with marked gefticulation and re^- 
novated fire. His Royal Highnefs, obferving 
the noble fervor of this wonderful old man, in- 
clined towards his royal confort, and, in a low 
tone of voice, informed her who he was. Upon 
this, her Royal Highnefs immediately came 



4i6 rut Lift Of 

forward, and, vith a condefccnfion that rcflecSlf 
the highcft honor on her exalted and illuftrious 
character, and ivith a majefty of grace and 
mein impoffibk for us to dcfcribc^ accompa^' 
nicd with a moft benignant fmilc, made a pro- 
found obeifance to the venerable Mr. Macklin, 
who appeared overwhelmed with ecftadc rap- 
ture, and whole feeble e£forts to demonftrate 
his feelings, on the occafion, were fuddeniy 
drowned by a burft of acclamation, which was 
fucceeded by the reiterated^ thundering plau* 
dits^ of an enthufiaftic audience — exhibiting a 
icene that was at once mdifcribably grand and 
thrillingly afFeding, 

Mr Macklin now became more weak and 
infirm every day; his hearing and memory 
grew worfe and worfe, and his appetite began 
to fail. The reader will be able to form fomc 
idea of Mr. Macklin's ftatc of body and mind, 
from the following convcrfation, which we had 
with him ia September, 1796. 

Qucftion. — " Well, Mr. Macklin, how do 
" you do to-day V 



CHARiSS MACKLJN, 4I7 

Anfwcnr-*' Why, I hardljr know Sir^ I 
^^ think I am a little better than I was in the 
'^ morning/' 

Q^^'Why, Sir, did you feci any pain in 
^' the morning ?" 

A. " Yes, Sir, a good deal." 

Q. '' In what part ?" 

A '' Why, I felt a fort of a— a— a*' (Ihaking 
his head) *' I forget every thing j I forget the 
'^ word : I felt a kind of a paun here," (putting 
his hmd upon his left breaft) ^^ but it is gone 
^^ away, and I am better now<-**'' 

Q. '^ How do you tteep. Sir V* 

A. ^^ Not fo well as I could wifh; I am be^ 
^' coming more wakeful than ufual : ( awoke 
^^ laft night two or three times : I got up 
^^ twice, walked about my room here, and 
^^ then went to bed 9gain, 

Vol. n. E c 



4l8' TH£ LIFE OP 

Q^ *' Do you dways get up when you 
''awake Sir?" 

A. " No Sir, not always j but I get Up 
'' and walk about as foon as I feel myfelf — 
'* there how it is all gone" (putting his hand 
upon his forehead). 

Q^ *' You get up. Sir, I fuppofe, as foon at 
*' you feel yourfelf uneafy in bed ?" 

A. " Yes, Sir, when I begin to be troutde* 
'* fome to myfelf." 

Qi^ '' Do not youj Sir, find it unpleafant to 
" walk about here alone, and to have nobody 
" to converfe with ?" 

A. '^ Not at allj Sirj I get up when I am 
*' tired abed, and I walk about till I am tired, 
^' and dien I go to bed again -, and fo forth." 

Q* " But does it not afford you great plea- 
'^ furc, when any pcrfon come* to fee you ?" 



CHARLBS MAQKLiU* 41^ 

A* ^^ Why not fo much as one would ex* 
^'pca. Sir/' ,, . 

Qi^ " Arc you not plcafcd when your friend* 
*^come and converfc with you ?" 

A* "1 am alway very hippy to lee my. 
'^ friends, and I fliould be very happy to hold 
«f a— a — a — —fee there now *' 

" A converfationj you rtiean. Sin*'-*- 

A* ** Ay, a coriverfation* Alas ! Sif— you 
" fee the wretched ftate of my memory— 
*' fee there now I could not recoUeft that com- 
^* mon word— but I cannot converfe* I ufed 
*' to go to a *houfc very Asar this, where my 

* It had been his content rtilei &r ^ period odhiitf 
years and upwards^ to vifit a public hoiife* called the 
Antelope, in White- Ha rt-Yarct, Covent Garden^ • where 
his ufual beverage was al pint of beer^ called Stout; which 
Ivas itiade hbU and fweetened with molft fiigar^ almofi 
to a fyrnp. This, he faid, balmed his fiomachj and kept 
him from having any inward pains • 



420 t.HE LIFE or 

^' friends aflemble — it was a .a- <i ***[a com- 
** pany] no, that's not the word — a-^a*«-dub 
*' I mean. I was the father of it ; but I could 
^^ not hear all ; and what I did hear I did not 
« a^^a — ^undcr — ^imder — undcrftandj they were 
'^ all very attentive to me, but I could not be 
*« one of them, I always feel an uneafinefs, 
*• when I don't know what the people are taBdng 
«« about. Indeed^ I found. Sir, that I was not 
** fit to keep company — fo I ftay away." 

Q. '^ Have you been reading this morn- 
'' ing, Sir ?" 

A. « Yes, Sir." 

Q;," What book?" 

A. " I forget : — here look at if* (handing 
die book.) 

Qt^ « I fee, it is ^ton'» Pandifc Loft. »» 

[He then took the hoc^^ut of my hand, and 
£ud:-^"I have only read thus much*' (about 



CHARLES MKCKhtH. 4ftl 

four pages) ^^ tbefe two day^^but whit I 
" read ycftcrday, I have forgot to diiy.*'~-£He 
next read a few lines of the beginning ini« 
mitably well^ and laying down the book^ 
(aid] ^' I underftaod all thac> but^ if I read 
^^ any farther^ I £>rget that pa0age» which I 
" underftood before." 

Q;^ " But I perceive, with fatisfadion. Sir, 
" that your fight is very good." 

A, ^*0h. Sir, myfi^t, like every tRii^ 
*^ elfe, begins to fail too : — about two days 
**ago I felt ft*— a — a— there now — I have 
" loft it — a prin juft above my left eye, and 
^^ heard fomething give a crack, and ever 
^^ fince, this eye (pointing. to the left eye) has 
** been psunfiil." . 

A. ^' I diink. Sir, it would be advifable 
'^ for you to refrain from reading for a little 
'' time." 

A* ** I believe you are in the right. Sir." 



4i2 THE LIFE OF 

Qj^ *^ I think you appear, at prcfent, frco 
^^ from pain." 

A. ** Yes, Sir, I am pretty comfortable now: 
^f but I find my — my — ^my — ftrength is ai| 
'^ gone-r-I feel myfelf goitig gradually. *^ 

Q^ '^ But you are not afraid to die ?'^ 

A. " Not m the leaft, Sir— I never did ariy 
** perfon any ferious mifchief in my life :—• ^ 
^' even when I gambled, I never cheated :— I 
^^ know that — a— a — a — fee — now— death, 
*' I mean, muft come, and I am ready to give 
" it up." (Meaning the ghoft) — 

Q;^ '^ I underftand you were at Drury-? 
'' Lane Theatre laft night ?" 

A. ^' Yes, Sir, I was there :'' 

Q^ " Yes, Sir, thenewfpapers of this morn-» 
^^ ing take notice of it/'^-f-r 

A, "Do they!"' 



CHA&LBS MACKLIN. 41^ 

(^ " Yes Sir— -The paragraph rufts thus : — 
'^ Among the numerous vifitors at Drury Lane 
'* Theatre laft night, we obferved the Duke 
^'of Quccnfbury and the veteran Macklin, 
^^whofe ages, together, amount to one 
^* hundred and ninety-fix/' 

Mn Macklint— *^ The Duke of who?" 

A, '' The Duke of Qjacenlbury, Sir ?" 

Mr. MackJin.— ^'^ I dont know that manr-— 
^' The Duke of Quecnfbury ! — The Duke of 
^' Queenfbury ! oh, ay, I remember him now 
*' very well :— The Duke of Queenfbury old ! 
^^ Why, Sir, I might be h« father! ha!-^* 

f^hal—hal'V- 

. > 

Q, *^ WcU^ Sir-T-^I underftandtk^tyou went 
f to the Hay-market Thc^tr? to fee the M?r- 
f* chant of Venice?'* 

A. ^a did Sir"™ 

Ec4 



Q:^ <« Whit is jour opinion of Mr« Pilmer's 

[This queftkm was anfWcrcd bf a ihake of 
the head. Beii^ defirous of hearing his opi^ 
nioHj I afked him the fecond time.] 

Mr. Macklin. — *' Why, Sir, my opinion is, 
" that Mr. Palmer played the charafter of 
" Sbylock in meftyU.-'^In this fccne there was 
'^ a iamenefs> in that fcene a famenefs, and in 
" every fcene a famenels : — It was all fame ! 
*• fame ! fame \ — no variation. He did not 
*' look the charafter, nor laugh the charafter, 
*^ nor fpeakthe charadter of Shakcfpeare's Jew, 
'* fo the trial fcene, where he comes to ctit the 
*' pound of flefh, he was no Jew. Indeed Sir, 
^' he did not hit the part^ nor the part did not 
*'W/him.'* 

[Here the converfation ended.] 

The remainder of Mr. Madelines life may be 
confidered as a mere chaim : — his mental fa- 
culdes became fo much impaired, that he fre- 
quently did not know his mod intimate friends ; 



CH4iRLES MACKLIN. 405 

ftnd Us fenfc of htaiing was fo blunted, that he 
could not catch the words which were fpoken 
to him in a loud voice- Debility and decay 
appeared now to prefs hard upon this veteran 
of the ftage; and it was pitiable to obfcrvc 
what havoc time had made upon his whok 
firkmc. In the beginning of the year 1797, he 
grew quite infirm, and in the month of May his 
diforder (which maybe called a gradual decay) 
became fo alarming, that Dr. Brocklefby, 
his moft mdmate friend, was called in. How- 
ever, Mr. Macklin rcfufed to take any medi- 
cine. Prcfcriptions, he faid, could be of no 
ufe to him, in the ftate that he then was : his 
ipan of life was nearly fpent. His diieafe was 
not fo powerful as to hinder him from converf- 
ing, occafionally, with philofophic cheerfulncfs, 
and Chriftian rcfignation. Three weeks be- 
fore hb death, he took very little fuftenance j 
but, what is not a little remarkable, his mental 
faculties returned, to an aftonilhing degree. He 
knew every body that vifited him, and he heard, 
faw, underftood, and converfcd, without the 
leaft difficulty. On Tuefday morning, the 
nth of July, 1797, Mr. Macklin got up. 



4^6 THI LIFE Oi 

wafhed himfelf all over in warmgin> (a pcaAioe 
he had been accuftomed to for many years) put 
on freih linen^ and then lay down again. During 
die time that he was wafhing, he feemed ^afy 
and compofed, and convcrfed with Mrs. Mackr 
lin with great tranquillity. In about an hour 
after he retired to his bed> he exclaimed to his 
wife — " Let me go ! let me go /'* laid himfelf 
backward, and expired without a groan, 

On Saturday, July 15th, the remains of Mr. 
Macklin were conveyed from his own houfe> 
in Taviftock Row, to Covcnt-Qardcn church. 
The procei&on confifted of an hearfe and four, 
and three coaches and four^ with an immenfc 
concourie of people. 

The following Gentlemen attended as 
piourncrs, 

Mr- Hull, of Covent Dr. Atkinfon, 

Garden theatre. Dr. Kennedy, 

Mr. Griffith, Mr. Macdonald, 

Mr. Kirkman, Mr. Brandon, • 

Mr. Hughes, junr. Mr. Ledger, 

Mr. B*^rloW;J ^r,Munden,CoyeAt-5 

Mr. Daviesi Garden theatre, 



CHAXLES MACKLIK. 42? 

The tfOdy was taken into the vettry, and 
prayers were read over it, in a very ijnpreffitc 
mannei-, by the Rev. Mr. Ambrofe, who had 
been a pupil of Mr. Macklin, and, from the 
refpeft he bore his preceptor, had come from 
Cambridge on purpofe to perfdrm this laft fa- 
cred ceremony of the Church over his lamented 
friend. The remains were then mterrcd in a 
new vault, under the chancel of Covent-Gar- 
den church, 

Mr. Charles Macklin was born on the firfb 
of May, 1690, and died at the advanced age 
of 107 years, two months, and ten days. — 
He never had a brother, as erroneoufly re- 
ported — nor was the expence of his funeral de- 
frayed by Mr. Harris, but by his widow, Mrs, 
Elizabeth Macklin. 

Several years before his death, Mr, Macklin 
happened to he m a large company of ladies 
^nd gentlemen, ^mong whom was the cele- 
t>rated Mr. Pope. — ^Thc conyerfation having 
turned upon Mr. Macklin's age, one of the la- 
dies addrc fled hcriblf to Mr. Pope, in words 



4a8 THE.tiFB or 

to the following tScGt ;-— " Mr. Pope^ when 
*' Macklin dies» you muft write his epacs^h/'-*- 
*^ That I will, Madomr laidPopci "nay, I 
" will give it to you now :-— 

" Here lies the Jew 

" That Sbske/peari drew:* 

The wh<dc company highly approved of this 
Epitaphj and Mr. Macklin has often related 
this anecdote in our hearing with great glee i 
and a more juft> comprehenfive, and conciie 
infcription never was written. 



•Cftap. XIX. 



THE precedii^ chapters contain fo much 
of Mr. Macklin, as an a&or and a man, 
that very little more is left for his biographer 
to record 



CHAHLSS MACKLIN. 429 

In his perfon, Mr. Macklin was rather above 
the mtddk height ; not corpulent^ but of a ro- 
buft, athkac make, with a countenMce ftrohgly 
marked and highly expreffive. His com- 
plexion was cadaverous, and there was an au- 
ftcrity in his looks, which intimacy foftened 
into complacency. His eye was keen, quick, 
penetrating, and extremely eloquent ; his voice 
was ftrong and powerful, and he ftood and 
walked, both on and off die ftagc, remarkably 
€re£t His conception of his author was always 
fttidtly juft, his delivery forcible, his pronun^ 
ciation correft, and peculiarly articulate, and 
his emphafis tafteful and pfx)per. 

In his ftage deportment he was free, and void 
of all afieftation, and ever attentive to the bu*> 
fine6 of the fcene. His a&ion was confiftent 
with Shakefpeare's general ruk — letting his 
B&ion fuit the words, and the words the ac* 
tion, and taking efpecial care never to faw the 
air.— His attitudes were executed with fpirit 
and exaAnefs, and the movements of his fca- 
tures were juft and ftrongly defcriptive. In a 
wprd, he never overftepped the modefty of na- 



43<i THl LIJ^B 0* 

turc i andi by his pcrfevcrancc, ftudy of nataiWi 
acute difccmmcQt, and found undcrftandingi ac-^ 
Gomplifhcd that which no man ever did before^ 
—he reduced ading to afcience* — His capacity 
was more extenfiye than his learning, and his 
knowledge much greater than could be ex- 
pected from a man fo befet with Various bu-^ 
finefs.—- ^He was always attentive to plcaicj^ 
but never ftooped to meannefs or officioufnefs* 
—He was fond of conviviality and gobd hu-^ 
mour, without tranfgreiling the laws of de-^ 
ccxicy*—- ^His condud, through life^ was hjighlf 
honourable, manly, and firm^ — He d^fpifed 
and abhorred low cunnmg and chicanery, and 
was an implacable enemy to bafenefs and dif-^ 
honefty*— His ccmveriktion was entertsdning 
and humorous, and ha had no fmall Jhare o£ 
excellence in telling funny ^ecdotes, and apt 
mtfd lively ftories. Were we to relate the many 
fervices that he rendered to others, we foould 
fill a volume. — Hiis houfe was always open to 
the needy and dtftr^fled — to his table w:ere 
welcomed the hungry and deftitute — and, for 
his council and inftrudtion, any ft$^e candi* 



CHARtEl MAOKLIlf. 431 

date, or brother aftor, might readily apply.— 
He was hofpitable, benevolent, charitable, and 
humane. — With all his good qualities, Mn 
Macklin had his failings ;— for not to have 
faults. Would exceed the lot of humanity.-— 
He was hafty in his temper ; nay, fometimes 
paflionate, and often faid and did that, which, 
On fefledliort, grieved him, and for which he 
was heartily forry. — Thefc, however, are but 
the failings of a man, whofe affeftions were 
evtr on the fide of virtue, and whofe abili- 
ties were fuch as few have equalled, ftill fewer 
excelled. 

Th« charaAer of Mr. Macklin flands very 
high for humanity, generofity, and charity^ 
When he profecuted' the men who con-i 
Ipired to drive him for ever from the Stage, 
and convifted them, he had it in his power, ' 
were he difpbfed, to gratify his vengeance to 
its fuUcft extent ; but his noblenefs of mind 
rejcAcd all puniftiment-— he forgave his ene- 
mies, when he might have ruined them.— Hi* 
humanity would not fufFer him to bring his ac- 
tion for damages againft the miferable dc-* 



43t , THE LIFI OF 

fendancs. — He tfted up to his great mafter 
Shakefpeare : — when he fays— 

*• And earthly power doth then (hew likeft God's 
*• When mercy ieafoni juftice.** 

The following inftance of Mr. Macklin's 

benevolence is recorded m Mawbey*s anec* 

dotes of Thomas Copke, the poet. — " Whilft 

*' Cooke yet lay dead in the houfe, I related to 

*' a friend, at the Bedford Coffcc-houfe, an ac- 

^' count of his death, and the diftreflcs of his 

'* family, in the hearing of Mr. Macklin, then 

** Handing near the bar. Though I had never 

^' fpoken to that gentkmatf before, (nor have 

** at any tinie fincc) he immediately afterwards 

^* addrefled me in words to the following pur- 

** port. — ^ I am much concerned. Sir, at hear^ 

'^ ing the melancholy account that you have 

^' given of poor Cooke and his fiunily : I had a 

" relpeft for him whilft livbg, and you will 

** therefore oblige me very much, if you will 

" permit me to add my mite to the fubfcrip'- 

<^ tion that you have fo laudably fet oh foot,-- ^ 

*' and he gave me two guineas* Such an un« 



cJharles macklin. ^23 

^^ cxpedcd aft of genuine benevolence has ever 
•' fince imprefled my mind with a very high 
''opinion of the goodnefs of Mr* Macklin's 
*' heart, and whenever I have heard his nam^ 
*' mentioned, in private companies, I have ge- 
^'ricrally related it to his honor.'! But this 
is only one inftance among a thoufand that we 
might record, were it neceflary. Mr. Macklin's 
charity "had nothing in it of oftentation — he 
learnt early to ** do good by Health.*' 

The true charafterof a man Is always more 
accurately known to his neighbours, and to 
thoie who live with him, than to the world at 
large. The tradefmen in the neighbourhood 
of Covent-Gardcn will bear ample teftimony to 
his hpitcfty> punftuality, and liberality; and his 
fervants, who lived upwards of forty years in 
his family, will declare that a better, more 
generous, of humane mafter never cxiited. 
They have now to deplore his lofe. 

As a comic writer, Mr* Macklin tinqueftion- 
ably ftands very bigher The Man of the World ^ 
Vol. n. F f 



43 1 thIb life of 

for boldncfs of fatirc, and originality of cha- 
rafter, may challenge any produftion, which 
has been rejprcfcntcd on the ftage for the laft 
fifty years J and his Love-a-la-Mtrde, which iis 
pregnant with much genuine humour, and 
knowledge of men and manners, denwnds alfo 
an high (hare of praife. In moft of his 
dramatic pieces there is to be found real cha- 
rafter, difcrimination of humour, modifh affec- 
tation, and fafhionable folly. He never oflfends 
(from his thorough knowledge of ftage oeco- 
nomy ) in the conduft of his plot, and the right 
management of his fcenes. To thcfe dramatic 
Excellencies, he added a ftrift attention to de- 
cency and morality. 

Mr. Macklin's merit, as an aftor and a tnian, 
thtfoduccd him to perfons in higli life. His 
late Royal Highnefs the Duke of York, liie 
prefent Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, 
the late Earl Canaden, the Marquis TOwnlhcnd, 
and many other noblemen and gentlemen of 
the higheft charafter and diftinftion were the 
.conftant and warm patrons. of Mr. MackUn. 



CHARLES MACKLIN. 435 

He was % great favourite with mmj of d» 
oohiHty, • in Ireland, and conTcrfed witk . 
them ffccly and fetniliarly. Nay> fo high an 
opinion was entertained of his integrity and 
judgment, that perfons of rank and charac-* 
ter difclofed to him their fccrets, con- 
fulted him upon their moft important affairs, 
arid looked upon him as their beft advifcr and 
bofom friend. 

To the noble and learned Lord Loughbo- 
rough, Mr. Macklin ftood particularly indebted* 
His Lordfhip, very early in life, became ac- 
quainted with this extraordinary man, dif- 
covered his merit, and countenanced and fUp- 
ported him through a variety of vieiffitudes. 
But, were it pofliblc to add a luftre to the 
noMe Lord's high and diftinguiflied charac- 
ter, the followingcircumftance, we are perfuaded, 
would have that effeft. As foon asLord Lough- 
borough had learned that Mr. Macklin was re- 
duced in his circumftanccs, to the immortail 
lionor of his benevolence and goodnefs of 
heart, be it recorded, hisLordftiip fettled a very 
handibmc aiuiuhy on the old man, and gave di- 
Ffi 



j^^6 THE LIFE OF 

rcftibns that it fhould be paid half yeairly. To 
tranftnit to poftcrity this anecdote of Itts^-Lord- 
fhip's bounty^ was Mr. Macklin's anxious de^ 
Arc. He imparted to us a knowledge of this 
highly praife -worthy aft of his Lordlhip, and 
Jbefought us, with his dying breath, to ufe ' 
every effort in our feeble power to hand it 
down to after ages* In recording it here, we 
have only attempted to discharge the duty that 
was impoled upon us, and we have to apologize 
for the very inadequate manner in which we have 
executed this folemn enjoinment, 

. As 'an hufband, no man could be more 
tender or indulgent; as a parent, no man more 
anxious or affedtionate ; as a friend, no tain 
more warm or iledfait; as a neighbour, none 
more valuable' or obliging, than Charles 
Macklin. 

In every fituation in life, in which he hap- 
pened to be placed, . Mr. Macklm afted with 
integrity and ability. He was too wife to be 
avaricious, too prudent to be prodigal,' and his 
kudable fpirit would not fuffer him to do a 
mean aftion. His great ambition was to pleafe. 



CHAHLBS MACICilN. 437. 

and do good. He-^as ever ready and willing 
to aflift.both managers and aftors in their cm- 
barraflments and diftrefs. 

He expended a great part of his property ii>' 
the education of his fon and daughter -, and^ 
inftead of hoardbg up large fums of money, as 
he might have done, he liberally lent them 
out to his neceifitous friends and acquaintances, 
and never was reps^id a fhilling. In this 
he afted very unlike a Jew; for he reco- 
vered neither principal nor intereft. Wc 
can take upon us to affert, that there are 
bonds now in the poifeffion of Mrs. Macklin 
for fcveral hundred pounds, which, owing to 
the infolvent circumftances of the parties con- 
cerned, are not worth a fingle farthing! Al« 
though he. wrote The True-born Sc^cbmanj, 
and reprefented the charadber of Sir Pertinax 
Mac-Sycophant fuccefsfully, no performer could 
be found more incapable of afting The Man of 
the World! — ^But he has fretted his hoiu- upon 
the ftage, and is heard no more! — Peace to hi? 
manes. 



4j8 TM HFt Of 

To c<Hi«lude,— «> ii¥»ofehis ppokS&m ht4 
ever been marc the obje^ of admuatioai few 
men were ever moremifreprcfcflWdof wifunder^- 
ftood i nor was any aftor more aggrieved, or 
}^tm formed to ^rn fociety, or moxt fin- 
cerdy difpoftjd to fervc jji^nkM, thi^^ Qh^rk^ 



^|&5j>. XX. 



Ml^t MaCKLIN'S ItXTRAORDINARV MaNNBH 
OF I,IVING, 

npHE following account of Mr. Macklm's 
-*•' manner of living, will not, wc truft, be 
wholly unacceptable to fcveral of our readers. 

To attain to the great age of 107 years 
has been the lot of very few^ and to pafs 
through life without the afflidion of any fcrious 
diforder or indifpofition, has been the goOd 



foftUDfrof iHU iewer^ among inwJpn^ Mr« 
Maotlin* by the feyOw of Providence, had 
difl iing«dar happioefs to accomplifh bo;h. 
He did not begiato pay particular, regard ta 
his conftitution, tiithc waa forty, years of age^ 
Up to that time he lived very irregularly ; he 
drank hard> iat up kte, and took violent ex- 
ercife $ but, fuUequ^m to diat period, he pro- 
Gcedhsd by wk. He attributsed the continua* 
tioA of his good heakh in his youth to perfpi« 
iatiofi-*-^ta promote which, when he was more 
advanced ia life, was his principal objedl. 

Mr. ]VI»<:Win4ra,rtk tea, porter, wine, punch, 
&c. and ate fiik, fle(h> fowl, &c. till h^ was 
^venty years of age; but he ncvcx drank to 
esceis. — If ever he was prevailed upon to 
drbk mofe than hb ufual quantity (feven oi 
eight ghi&s of wine) he always took Ander^ 
Jen's Scotch piU, going to bed at night. This> 
he f^d, kept his head from aching the next 
morning. He was always moderate at his 
meals, but never abftemious; and preferred 
f onvcrfedon to the botdc. At fcventy y^art 
pf age,, Mr. Mack^in, finding that tea difagcetd 
Ff4 



440 THE LIFE or 

with him, difcoiitinued the ufe of it in a great de* 
grcc,andtookmilk, (which he had always boiled) 
infteadof tea. He alfo had bread boiled in his 
milk, which he fweetened with brown fugar, till 
ir was almoft a fynip. Having loft all hb teeth, 

* about xhi year 1764, be was reduced in his 
fuftcnancc entirely to fifh (which be was very 
^nd of) herbage, puddiAg^, and fpoon meat ^ 
he liked all kinds of ftews, haihes> and foups> 
particularly giblet foup, which he ufed to hav^ 
©vo or three times a week. He was "a great 
lover of eggs, cuftards, and jellies: His diink 
at his meals, for the laft forty years of his life, 
was white wine and water, made very fweet. 
Being attacked by the rheumatiiix), in the 
year 1770, he difcontinucd the ufe of iheets> 
to avoid it, and flept in blaikets.-'-He did noe 
flecp upon a fcathef bed, but upon amattrefss' 
his bed was a kind of couch without curtainsy 
which was jplaced in the middle of a large 

•.- room.— On this he repofed, whenever he found 
himfclf inclined to fleep. — He always lay with 
his head very high, but never ftripped off his 
cloaths, for the laft twenty years of his life, 
Xl^ccpt tO; change them, to put on clean linen, 



CHARLBS MACKLIN. 44! 

or to have himfclf waflied^ an4 rybbed all 
Over with napkins dipped in warm brandy^ 
or gin : a praAicc which he ' repeated very 
often. He was alfo in the habit of fteeping 
his feet, for a confiderable time, in warm wa- 
ter. Whenever he went abroad, he changed 
all his cloaths, as foon as he returned home, 
and never fat in his own houfe in the drefs 
that he went out. Whenever he perfpired, 
he always put on frefh linen. We have known 
him, at the playhoufe, to change his fhirt 
three or four times during the perform- 
ance; and, when he went home, to change 
it again. He was much given to pcrfpiration, 
which he always promoted, never checked. 
This, he laid, contributed very much to pre- 
fcrve his health, and prolong his life : but, we 
are perfuaded, that he flood particularly in- 
debted to his athiable wife, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Mackliii, for her indefatigable care of and at- 
tention to him. Her fondnefs anticipated all 
his wantSj and her thorough knowledge of his 
difppfition and conflitution, enabled her to do 
more for him than the mofl eminent phyfician. 
For the laft ten years of his exiflence, he had 



44^ THB LIFB OF 

no ffased hours for his nnnlv — h% &Uovfre<^ 
tjoiely the dictates of nature. He ate ¥4i^ 
Ke was hungry (fome times a( two, thn«> oir 
iKbw o'clock in the morAiog> and Mrsi. M^- 
lin always got out of bed to wait uipoif^him) 
draak when he was dry^ and Qfijft ^/i^n he 
found hinvielf fleepy. Mr. Ma^klin knew we]| 
the value of his wife, and always ^oke of her 
in the highcft poffibk terms. In fa^ft, by hor^ 
extraordinary fkiU and attention^ i]^ coatpbut-r 
ed to keep the old man aliv^ mw:h longer 
than it was in the power of any other hu^;Ma. 
being to efFcdt. We have no hp^^atiow in pro-» 
nouncing her o^e of the beft nuifes in En^ 
g^andi and we are happy in having the op- 
portunity to declare, that there never was m 
ibciety a more amiable wi$^» a inore afifeclip^* 
ate mother, nor does there cxift a more fted- 
laft friend, a more obliging neighbour, or a 
snore deferving woma{I> than Mrs, Elizabeth 
Macklin. 



[ 443 3 

APPENDIX. 



Lijt 9f Mr. Madam's Drmatk fForh. 

KING Henry the Seventh, or The 
Popish Impostor, a Tragedy ; firft 
aftcd at Drury-Lanc, on the i8th January, 
1746. — Not printed. 

Will or no Will, or A New Cam for 
THE Lawyers— ^a Farce — afted at Drury- 
Lane, ajd April, 1746. — Not printed. 

The Suspicious Husband Criticised, 
or The Plagu^e of Envy— -a Farce — afted 
at Drury-X^ane at the conchifion of the ieaibii 
1746-47. — Not printed. 

The Club of Fortunb-Hunters, or 
Widow Bewitched — a Farce— afted at 
Drury-Lane, in 1747.— Not printed. 



444 APPEKDIX. 

I^vE-A-LA-MoDE a FaTCC aftcd at 

Drury-Lanc, in 'I759> ^^^ unbounded ap- 
plaufc.-— Printed. 4to. 

The Married Libertine— aComedy— 
afted at Covent-Garden Theatre, in 176 1. — 
■Not printed! 

Thje true-born Irishman— -a Farce— 
firft aftcd at Smock-alley Theatre, Dublin, in 
1763, and afterwards performed at Covent- 
Garden in 1767, under the title of The Irish 
FINE Lady. — Not printed. 

The. Man of the World — a Comedy— 
firft afted at Crow-Street Theatre, inE^ublm, 
in 1772, under the title of The true-born 
Scotchman, and afterwards performed at 
Covent-Garden, in 178 1, under its prcfent 
title.— Printed. 4to. 

He has left behind him feveral plays, which 
have never been aded, and alfo feveral pieces 
unfinilhed. 



- APPENDI*. 445 

List of Characters performed' by Mr. 
Macklin. 

Captain Strut, Double Gallant. 

Sanchoj r Love makes a Man. 

Clincher^ Junr Con ft ant Couple. 

Farmer,. Merlin^ or the Devil at 

Stonehenge. 
Thomas Appletrec, ... Hecruiting Officer. 

Poins, Henry IF. 

Ramillie, ...- The Mifer. 

Wormwood, Virgin Unmajked. 

Whifpcr, ;.... Bufy Body. 

Petulant, 'The Way of the World. 

Undertaker, The Ploty a Pantomime. 

Caliban, J. The Temfeft. 

The Connoifleur, Connoijfeur. 

Drunken Colonel, Intriguing Chambermaid 

Snap, Love's Lajl Shift. 

Robin, * The Contrivances. 

Lory, ^ The Relapfe. . 

Second Grave Digger, Hamlet. 

Peter Nettle^ The What D'ye call it. 

Cheatley^ Squire of Alfatia. 

Young Cafh, ,..,.. Wife's Revenge. 

Davy, *..«. Mock DoHor. 



44^ APtEKtilt* 

Bcggar> Pbeh, 

Boor Servant, Burg0 Mafter trick' d. 

Oftrick, Hamlet. 

Francis, Henry IV, 

Pierrot, Fmr Tierrtt MdrruL 

^cffcry, Amorous W^tdow. 

Pcachum, Beggar' s Of era. 

Sir Hugh Evans, ..*.... Merry Wives of Windjor 

Fender, Bouhle GaUant. 

Sailor, Tempeft. 

Captain Weazcl, Eurydicey or the Devil 

Henpecked* 

Grig, , :. Beggar's Wedding. 

•Razor, , Provoked Wife. 

Subtleman, Twin Rivals. 

Gibbet, Stratagem. 

Count Baflct, ProvoVdHufband. 

Jeremy, Love for Love. 

Abel, Committee. 

Setter, Old Bachelor. 

Coupee, » Virgin Unmajked. 

Brafs,' Confederacy. 

Poins, Second Part Henry IV. 

Poet, ,. Mother in Law. 

Afino, ymvtrjd Pajfion. 

Beau Mordecai, Harli^'s Progrtfs. 



APPBKDIX. . 447 

Lord Ffodi, ..•. D(^uble Dealer. 

Face, .» •.. Alchymift. 

Cutbcard, Silent iVotuan. 

Quoit, '^fop, 

Jerry Blackacrc, Plain Dealer. 

Pierrot, , Harlequin Grand Vdgu 

Bay«s, Coffee Hou/e. 

Orange Woman, Man 9f Mode ^ 

Lord Foppington, Relapfe. 

Lord Foppingfon, CareUfs Hufimd. 

Scrub, Stratagem. 

Man of Taftc, Man ofTafte. 

Roxana, Rpoal Querns, 

Tattle, , Love for Love. 

Citizen, Julius C^sejar. 

Butler, Drummer. 

Teaguc, Twin Rivals. 

Witch, ....••. Macbeth. 

Teagac, ...., Committee. 

Slouch, Robin good Felhw. 

Ben, Love for Love. 

SirPolydorcHogftye, jiEfop. 

Trappanti, She would and fit would 

not. 

Foigard, Stratagem. 

Mad W^lftftnon, Pilgrim. 



448 APPENDIX. 

Numps, Tender Hujband^ 

Morocco Servant, Fall of Phaeton* 

Squib, Tunbridge Wells. 

Marplot,' \ Bujy Body. 

Modclovc, Bold Stroke for a Wife. 

Clown, Harlequin Shipwrecked. 

Don Choleric, Love makes a Man. 

Clincher, Senr Confiant Couple. 

Old Mirabel, Inconfiant. 

Mock Doftof, Mock BoSor. 

Tim Peafcod, What D'ye call it. 

John Moody, .\ Provok'd Hujhand. 

Sir Novelty Fafhion, •. Love's lafi Shift. 

Sir John Daw, Silent Woman. 

Lord Lue, Lottery. 

Jack Stocks, ♦ Lottery. 

Clodpole, Amorous Widofw* 

Sir William Belfiand, .. Squire of Alfatia. 

Bullock, •.... Recruiting Officer. 

Trincdo, Tempefl. 

Mercury, Ho/fitalfor Fools. 

Bayes, Britons flrike Home\. 

Fondlewifc, Old Bachelor. 

Drunken Man, Lethe. 

Lovegold, Mifer. 

Tom, ......••*%.••«• .^t..^. Confcious Lovers. 



APPENDIX. 449 

Trim, , Funeral. 

Sir John linger, Polite Converjation. 

Sir Jafper Fidget, Country Wife.. 

Sir Francis Wronghead Provoked Hujband. 

Toby Guzzle, Rural Sports. 

Hig^n, Royal Merchant. 

Petite M^tre, Enchanted Garden. 

Malvolio, Twelfth Ktght. 

Shylock, Merchant of Venice, 

Macahon, Strollers^ 

Old Woman, Ruk a Wife and have a 

Wife, 

Touchftone, As you like it. 

Dromio of Syracufc, .. Comedy of Errors. 

Phyfician, , Rehearfal. 

Gomez, ., ..,, Spanijh Friar.^ 

Clown, .•.,. ,.. AW s well tb(it ends well. 

Courino, Volpone. 

Sir Paul Pliant, Double Dealer. ^ 

Queen DoUalolla, Tom Thumb. 

RigdumFunnidos, ..... Chrononhotonthologos. 

Zorababel, Mifs Lucy in Town. 

Firft Grave Digger, ... Hamlet. 

Colonel BlufF, Old Bachelor. ^ 

Mr. Stedfaft, Wedding Day. 

.Vol. II. Gg 



Gloftcr, Jane Sbou, 

lago, *....*...* Oihello. 

Ghoft, * .„ , HanUeti 

Lovelels, Relate. 

Huntley, .„... Henry VIL 

Sir John Brute, Provoked TFife. 

Brazen, R^fruiting Officer^ 

Stephano, ................ Tempifi. 

Sir John Airy, She Gallants. 

Sir Roger, ** Scornful Lady 4 

Slorem, - I^ing Lci}er. 

Captain Cadwallader, Humours of the Army^ 
Sir Gilbert Wrangle, Refujd. 

Major Bramble, Fine Lady's Airs. 

Gripus, * Amphitryon. 

Flalh; Mifs in her Teens. 

Strickland, ..«..«..«. Sujficious Hujband^ 

Pandolfo, Alhumazar. 

Sciolto, .i..... Fair Penitent. 

Faddle, r^.. Foundling. 

Muftacho, Cure for a Scold. 

Snip, Trick for Trick. 

Polonius, Hamlet. 

Vellum, .......... .»' Drummer. 

Don Manuel, ...*,.o.,.. She would and fhenoquld 

not. 



APl»EilDi3t. 4^t 

Sir Oliver Cockwood, She would ifjbe could. 

Mercutio, ..^ 4 Romio and Juliet. 

Barnaby Brittle, ^ * Amorous fVidow^ 

Lopez, * Falfe Friend. 

SirWilflilWitwou'd,.- f^ay of the fForld. 

Lopez, Mijidke. 

Fluellen, Henry V. 

Buck, ..«. 4. Englijbman in Paris* 

Sir Archy M'Sarcafm, Love-a-la^Mode. 

Lord Belville, Married Libertine. 

MurroughO'Doghcrty Irifi Fine Lady. 
Macbeth, ...*.,.,..... .4.. Macbeth. 

Richard ffl Richard IIL 

Mr. Macklin performed feveral other Cha- 
f adtcrs of inferior note* 



Mr. Macklin's miL 

IN the name of God, -^/w«^. I Charles Macklin, 
of James Street, Covent-Garden, in the County 
of Middlefcx, Gentleman, being in good health 
of body, and of found and difpofing mind. 



45^ APPENDIX, 

memory, and underftanding, do make this my 
•laft will and tcftamcnt, in . manner following, 
that is to fay : Imprimis. I dircft, that all my 
juft debts, funeral expenccs, and alfo the charges 
ofprovingthismy will, be, in the firft place, fliUy 
paid and fatisfied. Item. All the reft, refidue^ 
and remainder of my eftate and cfFefts, ofwha{ 
nature or kind foever, and wherefoever, I give, 
direft, and bequeath, unto my dear wife, Eliza- 
beth Macklin, her executors, adminiftrators, 
and afligns, to and for her and their own ufc ; 
and I do appoint my faid wife fole executrix of 
this my will 5 and hereby revoking and making 
void all former and other wilk, by me, at any 
time, heretofore made, I do declare thefe pre- 
fents to be and contain my laft will and teftamcnt. 
In witnefs whereof, I have hereunto fct my hand 
and feal this fecond day of Oftober, one thou- 
fand feven hundred and feventy-one. 

Charles Mac^^lin. (L, S.) 

Witnefs I. H. Winbolt. 



F I N I S,